Last Knight- the next chapter Karen Gunther Authors Notes: This is a work of fiction using characters and situations from ‘Forever Knight’. No profit is being generated from this story and I promise not to harm them any more than TPTB already did. Permission is granted to archive at www.fkfanfic.com/ fkfanfic2/ ftp site. It will be archived on my personal story archive (www.angelfire.com/tx5/kannegun) Chapter 01/ “Could you lift that up?” Natalie asked with a tired sigh. Carefully probing with her right hand, she waited for her assistant to retract the tissue so she could get the tissue biopsy. At one time she could do a full autopsy unassisted. At one time, her left arm would do as she asked. That was before. “Like this?” Grace asked patiently. She didn’t mind helping. It hurt to see her friend struggle to do the most basic things but she wouldn’t complain. It was enough that she was back to work. It was enough that her friend was alive. “Yeah, that’ll do it,” Natalie confirmed. She had adjusted somewhat to working one-handed and even regained some speed. It was no use dwelling on what was. She was simply grateful to be able to go on with her life and regain some sense of normalcy. As if working nights in a morgue was at all normal. “You think you’ll be able to finish it on your own?” Grace took the basin and turned to walk away. “Yeah, I’ve gotten pretty good at closing. I’ll holler if I need anything. You can take those to the lab.” She hunched over the body taking the long curved needle to begin closing the Y-incision. Humming softly to herself she clicked off the overhead microphone. She had been back to work for several months and was in a rhythm. Every case was easier. It felt good to be able to work again. While nothing was routine for her anymore, it gave her a reason to keep pushing herself, a reason to keep going to physical therapy even though she hadn’t seen much improvement over the past few months. To some extent, her friends had been surprised that she’d opted to come back to her post as night shift coroner. She could have gone on disability or taken a teaching position at the Medical School. Neither option was one she wanted. Coming back to her old job was, to some degree, her way of reclaiming her life. She only remembered bits and pieces of her attack. She had been found on the side of the road, her throat slashed. It was listed as an assault and robbery although no leads had come close to bringing a suspect in her case. She had been comatose long enough that any information she could have given was of no use. That is, if she could have given useful information. What she did remember was not something she was likely to repeat to anyone. She had vague recollections of a shadowy underworld co- existing with the public of Toronto. While she couldn’t account for being beaten, she had a faint memory of what she could only describe as a vampire’s fangs entering her throat. The truly odd thing to her thought was that it was not an act of savage violence but rather one done gently, in an almost erotic manner. She quickly dismissed it as a quirk of an overworked and overtaxed imagination. The idea that vampires were anything but a myth was something she didn’t want to reveal. She didn’t think anyone would believe her. Her neurologist said that a loss of short term memory was normal with any form of stroke but since hers was a result of trauma, it was particularly severe. She hadn’t questioned it at first. That had seemed like a logical explanation and was something she knew to be true. As time went on, she could not help but wonder if there was more to it. She had vague shadows of thoughts and feelings that led her to doubt herself. Had something else happened? The shadows were now taking shape and it was not something she’d ever thought possible. The coroner in her knew that the injuries that she’d sustained did not really match the crime everyone assumed had been committed. That knowledge was not something she’d take lightly, nor did she think she could talk to anyone. In the past several months, her memories of vampires and their abilities had become clearer. Had a vampire taken exception to her knowledge and attempted to silence her? Stripping off her thick protective gloves, she grabbed her cane and hobbled over to the desk chair. Sinking into the cushioned surface gratefully she propped the cane against the desk and spun around to face the computer. Strapping on her wrist brace she began laboriously typing. Fortunately, the majority of the autopsy report would be transcribed by a secretary. Even before the stroke, she detested computers. Now, it was a slow, painstaking process for her to generate a report. She could only be grateful that it was her only her left side that was affected. By the time the reports were complete and printed, it was nearly morning. For once, she was not dreading the end of the shift. She’d called in more favors than she cared to count over the past few months but just that day had picked up her new car. It was equipped with hand controls and gave her back the mobility and freedom she’d lost nearly two years previous. “You sure you’ll be okay this morning?” Grace asked, her coat slung over her arm as she peered around the corner to Natalie’s desk area. “I’ll be fine, thanks. Jenny Schanke is coming over this afternoon.” Natalie smiled. The need for a daily visitor to help with simple things like dressing pained her more than anything. She’d changed her style of dress to minimize back zippers, buttons and tailored sleeves. Some things had become easier, but she had a long way to recovery and no one could even be sure that she would ever be able to do all the things she’d once done. If she allowed herself to think too much, to become absorbed in the past she would linger on the edge of depression. ************* The harsh buzz of the alarm woke Natalie in the late afternoon. Stretching to ease the kinks, she rose slowly and went to the kitchen. It came as no surprise that Jenny was already there. They had formed an unusual bond over the past several months as Natalie relearned basic living skills. Still suffering from the grief of losing her father, the opportunity had proven therapeutic for the adolescent. Together, they were going forward with their lives. “Morning, Nat,” she grinned. “Aren’t you a little confused there?” Natalie teased. Of all her helpers, none brightened the day as much as Jenny. “Time is what you make it. Everything’s relative,” she shrugged, handing Natalie a mug of coffee. “I made omelets.” “Great,” she said enthusiastically, easing herself into the chair. “Do you cook for your Mom?” “No, Mom cooks for me,” Jenny replied, setting the plates down. She’d already cut Natalie’s into bite size pieces. It was an unspoken acknowledgement of what had brought the two of them together. “I think she still misses Dad. She’ll make casseroles for church groups just to make his favorite recipes. Before you start refusing her donations, I assure you that she loves cooking for you as well.” “Well, you be sure to thank her again. I don’t know what I’d do without the two of you helping me so much.” “I owe you, remember?” Jenny commented, her expression no longer teasing. “If you hadn’t tutored me in Biology, I don’t think I’d have made the Honors List.” “You were doing fine,” Natalie assured her. “I was *passing*,” she corrected. “That doesn’t mean I understood the material very well. You made it seem so clear. I actually enjoyed dissections now. I may even think about medical school.” “Any time you want to see a *real* dissection, let me know,” Natalie teased. “Aren’t you taking Anatomy next semester?” “I am,” she acknowledged. “There isn’t a lab, but I may take you up on that offer. I’d be the envy of my class.” “Anytime. You know the number,” she smiled. Since coming home from the Rehabilitation hospital three months previous, she had a rotating group of high school students that she thought of as helpers. At least she’d regained enough strength to shower without help but couldn’t dry her hair or dress herself alone. In exchange, she was tutoring them in various sciences. It was surprising that she could remember physics from her undergraduate days, but couldn’t remember events that had happened only a year ago. Finishing her meal, she stood slowly and held onto the table briefly to regain balance. She reached out for her plate only to have it taken away by Jenny. “I’ve got it, Natalie,” she said quickly. “Hey, I saw the new car. Pretty nice.” “It is. I’ve always wanted a blue car,” she said thoughtfully, following Jenny into the kitchen and watching as the younger woman finished cleaning up. “Now that wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain detective who had a blue car, would it?” she teased. “No, I don’t know any detectives who don’t drive precinct cars,” she said with obvious frustration. It was not the first time that someone made comments that made her think she’d had some sort of relationship with a detective that she didn’t remember. “Oh, I’m sorry, I forgot,” she said quickly. Her mother had told her that Natalie didn’t remember the mysterious man who’d once been her father’s partner. He had perished in a fire while Natalie was in the hospital. For a long time, no one had spoken about him to Natalie for fear of bringing up painful memories. Once they had started to tentatively comment about him, it was discovered that Natalie didn’t remember anything about him. “It’s okay. You aren’t the first. Sometime, someone is going to have to help me remember who this detective is that everyone seems to think I had the hots for. ” “He used to be Dad’s partner,” Jenny remarked. “I’m sure you’ve seen his picture at our house.” She knew that similar pictures adorned Natalie’s table but didn’t want to bring it up. “Probably, but it doesn’t mean I remember anything about him.” She sighed, looking at the framed picture that still sat on her shelf. It seemed odd to her that everyone avoided talking about him directly. What was it about that detective? She was at a formal dance, posing with a tall blonde man with striking blue eyes. She didn’t remember the dance, or her partner. Other than a few cryptic comments made by well-meaning colleagues, she had no idea who he was, or what their relationship had been. “Now I think I’ve taken too much of your evening already.” “I don’t mind. Really, I don’t. Besides, it’s the right thing to do. I’d like to think that Dad would want me keeping you company.” “He would,” Natalie agreed. She had vague memories of the plane crash, but little else from the past eight years had survived her stroke. Truthfully, that was one memory she wished she didn’t have. Chapter 02/ The growing darkness draped Toronto with a blanket of shadows. Hovering outside a tall apartment building, the man stood watching. Waiting. Every night he would appear shortly after sunset. He was alone, and never spoke to any of the occupants as they scurried about their daily business. If anyone dared come close, he would fade into the shadows, as if he was never there. It was enough that he could watch her. “I thought I’d find you here,” a low sonorous voice spoke into his ear. “What do you want, LaCroix?” he asked with a resigned sigh. “This is such a waste of a life,” he commented, pointedly ignoring the question. “It’s mine to waste.” “I thought you were going to Italy to see Janette,” he said with an arched brow. The question hung unasked. From the moment the younger man had departed, LaCroix knew it to be a falsehood. It was a lie they’d both allowed to happen. Coming back to Toronto had been inevitable, no matter how much the elder had tried to prevent it. “I changed my mind.” “Must you spend the end of every century mooning over some mortal woman that you cannot have?” “Who asked you to follow me?” “You are my business, Nicholas. You are my son. I won’t have you making a fool of yourself again.” “Again, I ask you why you followed me,” Nick responded with growing impatience. He’d tolerated his master’s meddling more often than he could say, but he thought they were beyond that. The past two years had changed their relationship more than the previous 800 years. “After the events of the past decade, you need to ask?” he sniffed. “I don’t trust that you won’t do yourself harm. It isn’t healthy for you to stand out here just to catch a glimpse of your doctor friend. Nicholas, what do you hope to gain by being here?” “I needed to see that she was all right.” “I suppose that is a matter of debate,” he mused. “Health is such a precarious thing for mortals.” He looked at the younger man with all seriousness. “You aren’t contemplating making contact with her, are you?” “I’d thought about it,” Nick confessed. “You are dead to her. Dead and gone. Why reopen wounds that have healed?” “Are you sure they’ve healed? Are you sure she thinks I’m dead?” “Perhaps because your loft burned to the ground two nights after she had her unfortunate accident. Your remains were found inside and you were buried with full police honors. Or did you forget that tidy little ending to that life?” “She wouldn’t believe it,” Nick began. “She understood how things worked. I told her that I was leaving.” “Are you quite certain?” “What did you do to her?” Nick asked suddenly suspicious. He’d merely been told that LaCroix would ‘take care’ of Natalie and that she would survive. He’d assumed that meant simply taking her to a hospital. Had he done more? “I did nothing,” the elder vampire replied sternly. He’d seen the angry look that Nick had given him. Of course he would assume that hypnosis was involved. “Then why are you so convinced that she won’t remember what happened that night?” “I didn’t have to take those memories” he said simply. “The stroke did. Remember? You had drained her to the point of death. It took some pretty fast work on the part of the hospital to save her life at all.” Nick was silent for a moment. He couldn’t argue with that logic. He had caused Natalie’s stroke or at least induced the physiologic changes that then resulted in swelling of the brain. Despite being a continent away from her, he’d followed her condition as best he could. His desire to know how she was doing was the incentive to learn computer skills from his old friend Larry Merlin so he could monitor her hospital records. The computerized medical records gave him an incomplete picture. He knew she had survived, but at what cost? Even the knowledge that she’d had a stroke had not prepared him for seeing her. It pained him to watch her slow movements, her struggles to do the simplest things. This was not what he wanted for her. “Even if she doesn’t think you’re dead, she is unlikely to be thrilled to see you.” “Why do you say that?” “Oh, let’s see…to begin with, you chose to disregard what she wanted, in favor of your own desires.” “She didn’t know what she was asking,” Nick said stubbornly. “I think she did. She asked you to bring her across if you could not control yourself. She knew what that meant. You said it yourself. She knew how things worked for us. She knew you were leaving and she asked to come with you. Even if you won’t admit that she was asking to be brought across, you must admit that she understood moving on and was ready to stay with you. She has every right to be angry with you.” LaCroix leaned against the tree, watching Nick’s reaction. By his silence, he knew that he’d made an impact. “What if I was wrong?” he finally asked. He had no argument. Two years away from Toronto, away from Natalie had convinced him that he didn’t want to spend eternity wishing and regretting. Mortality had no allure without her. Without that quest, he’d drifted aimlessly with LaCroix ever since that night. “What if you were? What good will that knowledge do for anyone?” “I need to know. I need her to forgive me.” He turned to face his master, their eyes meeting. “You’re right, I admit it. I didn’t do as she asked.” “Very good, Nicholas,” he said mockingly. “You admit that you are not the center of truth in the universe. Mark the day.” Nick glared at him angrily. Seeing the main door open, he shrunk back into the shadows and watched Natalie come out to a car he’d not seen before. A blue-green sedan. It wasn’t a Cadillac but the color was close. “Are you going to follow her to work again?” he sighed. “I suppose you have a better idea,” Nick commented sarcastically. “You wouldn’t like my ideas.” “No, I don’t imagine that I would.” Nick agreed. He hesitated for a moment before continuing. “If I asked, would you do something for me?” The elder vampire paused momentarily to study Nick’s expression. “You want me to bring her across, don’t you?” Nick nodded, unable to verbalize his request. The desire had come to him slowly as he’d spent every night watching her since he’d returned to Toronto two months previous. He sighed heavily. “I’ll consider it. I make no promises, but if I do this…” “I know,” Nick agreed quickly. He knew how LaCroix’s bargains worked. They usually began with a promise of loyalty and then involved a promise that involved a period of time as his companion. That was the easy bargain. Something more difficult was negotiated with no end point in sight. When confronted with that type of favor, Nick had always backed down. Just because he had eternity didn’t mean he wanted to spend it at his master’s beck and call. “How long?” “She would need to be trained appropriately,” he began. “Of course,” Nick interrupted. “I’m willing to do whatever’s necessary.” “I hardly think you are qualified for this task,” he replied sternly. “You don’t exactly have a good track record, either with conversions or training.” “I can do it,” he insisted. “I love her.” “If you want me to be her master, and want her to survive the transition, then allow me to be her mentor.” He scrutinized the younger man’s longing expression. “You realize that Janette gave me two centuries.” “For what?” “For you,” he replied smoothly, enjoying the look of shock. “Oh, she stayed longer of her own choosing but she promised me companionship for 200 years in exchange for bringing you across.” “I thought…” Nick began. All this time, he’d been under the assumption that it had been LaCroix’s idea to offer him the gift of immortality. “That I found you? Oh, how naïve,” he remarked. “I was not in the habit of frequenting inns where you Crusaders gathered. Too noisy,” he sniffed. “She watched you on your journey to Paris and was intrigued. She contacted me when you’d arrived in Paris and we discussed an agreement. Yes, I’d been thinking of adding to our entourage but it was she that chose you.” “Oh,” he said quietly. All this time, he thought that LaCroix had made the decision to make him a vampire. In all honesty, it really would not have made a difference. No matter how much he protested to the contrary, the allure of immortality after being around so much death was more than he could resist. “Since Janette has gone her own way, I could be persuaded to add Ms. Lambert to our entourage,” LaCroix said thoughtfully. In truth, he’d been thinking of offering the gift of immortality to her. He’d seen her growing interest and knowledge and despite Nick’s protestations, he knew that she had a more pragmatic view of their life. In all likelihood she would adapt better than Nick ever had. “How long?” he asked again. “Three,” he replied. “Decades? Centuries?” “What do you think?” he replied sarcastically. “Thirty years? Oh come, now, Nicholas. I’m not that easily persuaded. Three hundred years. You agree to travel with me. You may continue to amuse yourself with mortal incarnations but when I say it is time to move on, you will not argue. You will desist in this foolish search for mortality if I grant immortality to your mortal lover.” This statement got an angry glare. “You do remember our previous agreement? Do you not?” “You’re assuming a lot here, LaCroix.” “Perhaps,” he said deliberately. His voice was clear, matter-of-fact. It had taken on the tone of the Nightcrawler. “Your protests are foolish. I can read your expression clearly, mon fils. You have for just two short years ached with the pain that I’ve felt since leaving your sister behind. By all rights, I should just let you suffer. I am being generous. I am willing to ease your pain. That is my offer. Take it or leave it.” “All right,” he sighed heavily. “I agree.” “I will make some preparations. You may attempt contact with her.” He waited for a moment, seeing Nick’s face look hopeful for the first time in a year. “Don’t be surprised if she doesn’t know you, or anything about us.” “What then?” “She has to consent. I won’t forcibly bring someone across. If she wants nothing to do with you, our agreement is void.” “She’ll agree. I’ll bring her to your townhouse this morning.” Nick said confidently. Surveying the area quickly, he took to the sky. Chapter 03/ The coroner’s office had not changed. The harsh lighting hurt his eyes even more now. In the months after his near-staking, he’d gone back to consuming LaCroix’s special blends of human blood. Despite his sire’s claim that he’d ‘missed’, he knew that the carved walking stick coming next to, but not into his heart was deliberate. It was extremely painful as the wood had remained there for two days, while LaCroix had ‘taken care’ of Natalie and then moved most of Nick’s possessions before setting the fire. Immobilized by the pain, he could only watch as the plan took shape. Even once the stake was removed, he was too weak to fight and had meekly accompanied the elder vampire on the plane to Paris. Janette had prepared the chateau outside Paris but had left before they’d arrived. She had little sympathy for LaCroix not agreeing to assist with Nick’s death. Since coming back across, she’d avoided contact with Nick. When they finally did meet, she had simply said, “It serves you right.” She had then departed for Italy and maintained minimal contact with either man. At the time, Nick had been surprised that their sire had allowed Janette to travel unaccompanied. Now he knew better. Janette had been LaCroix’s first fledgling, his first long-term companion but Nick was like the first-born son, the heir. For one raised in feudal Europe, the attitude was not unexpected. While she could travel with the full support and approval of their family patriarch, Nick would forever be fighting for the same rights. Of course, the long quest for mortality was part of the reason for LaCroix’s tight hold on him, it was not the only reason. Nick had distanced himself from the vampire community long before he began searching for a way out. His sire had not. If anything, he was more involved than ever and like the Roman patriarch he was, he wanted his son by his side. Staying in the shadows, he watched Natalie emerge from the locker room. The fact that she had on scrubs meant she would soon be starting an autopsy. He knew from watching her earlier that week that she wouldn’t be alone. He slipped into her lab silently. It had been too long since he watched her work. In some ways he was looking forward to it. He slowed his breathing to barely detectable levels and stood motionless until her assistant had left her alone at the conclusion of the autopsy. “Natalie,” he said quietly, stepping in front of the table. Startled, she dropped her instrument, and stifled a scream. “Who, who are you?” she stuttered. Incredulous, she saw the man from her dreams staring at her. “You don’t remember me?” he asked gently. He kept a polite distance but he could hear the rapid beating of her heart and smell the fear. “N-no. Should I?” “I’d hoped you would,” he replied. He stooped over and picked up the needle holder, handing it to her silently. “How did you get in here?” she was suddenly suspicious. The coroner’s office now had security systems in place that would have prevented any unauthorized people from getting to the forensics labs. “I have my ways,” he shrugged. At first he’d thought that her reaction was simply from surprise. She stood back, warily watching every movement. “What are you doing here?” she asked cautiously taking the needle driver in hand. The man looked vaguely familiar. She would swear he was the one in the picture. That couldn’t be. He had died, or at least that’s what everyone had told her. “I wanted to see you,” he replied, leaning against the wall. He could watch her movement and expression but didn’t try to get any closer. From her reaction, Nick knew that his plan wouldn’t be as simple as he’d hoped. LaCroix was right; she didn’t remember him. “Do you know me?” she studied his expression and tried to think of his name. While he did resemble someone from her past, his name remained a mystery. If he was the man from the picture, was he a ghost? Was this simply her over-active imagination? Was she longing to learn of her past so much that she’d conjured up an image? “Ah, yes,” he breathed, letting his face reveal the raw desire he felt for her. “We, are, umm, good friends.” “From the way you’re looking at me, I’d guess that you wanted it to be more than that,” she commented. She was beginning to feel more comfortable in his presence, even though he’d not introduced himself. “We both did,” he spoke softly. He stepped closer and took the scissors from her instrument stand. She held up the suture material and watched him snip it for her. This close she could feel his breath, ever-so-softly as he stood next to her. “Thanks,” she said, leaving the needle on the table and walking over to her desk. She looked at him with renewed suspicion. “I’ll take your word for that. I don’t know you.” “Will you trust me enough to meet me tomorrow after your shift?” “I suppose,” she reluctantly agreed. There was something in the man’s earnest expression that brought back memories she’d suppressed since her accident. She didn’t know his name, but she remembered being here in the lab with him. Why was that? “I’ll be outside your apartment,” he said and disappeared as quickly as he’d appeared. She shook her head in disbelief. Had what she *thought* just happened, really happened? **** “You seem troubled, mon fils,” LaCroix reflected watching the younger vampire pace around his living room. He’d appeared at the townhouse alone several hours previous. Besides drinking an entire bottle of blood, he’d spent most of the night staring out the window as if in silent meditation. “Did she turn you down?” “Not exactly,” Nick said slowly, staring out the window. The sky was beginning to lighten in the east. In just a few minutes, the automatic shutters would descend, trapping him indoors for the day. “Let me guess. The good doctor doesn’t know you,” he stated with assurance, slowly sipping his bloodwine. “No, she doesn’t,” he finally admitted. “Nothing about you?” “No,” he replied sullenly. “I warned you. So then, are you prepared to come back to Paris with me?” “Not yet,” Nick said emphatically “Oh, Nicholas. This is so repetitive. I thought you’d agreed to leave.” “I don’t give up that easily.” “No, I don’t suppose that you do,” LaCroix said with a heavy sigh. “I’m being very patient with you. By all rights, I could simply pack you up and take you to Paris with me. This is not a good idea. The council would agree.” “Duly noted,” Nick nodded.. “I’m serious, Nicholas. Your demise was very public and very final. You should not be in Toronto.” “I’ll be careful,” he said confidently. “I don’t’ think you understand the risks. You are blinded by desire. The longer that we remain in Toronto, the more likely that you’ll relax, let down you guard.” “I haven’t survived 800 years by being reckless. I know the risks of disclosure.” He paused for a moment, capturing LaCroix’s gaze. “I’ve met the Enforcers. I have no desire to see them again.” “Really?” LaCroix probed, standing closer until the two men were chest to chest. “I feel your craving. You want her so badly that you can taste it. Ever since you took her warm blood, you’ve been flooded with needs that you don’t understand. It will take you over, control you until you finish it.” “What does that mean?” Nick stepped back, unwilling to acknowledge the truth in his statement. “You didn’t consummate your love. You took her as a vampire but not as a man. Your bond is incomplete. Whether you will admit it to me or not, you want that bond. You need that bond. You won’t rest until it is done.” “How do you know that?” Nick shot back. This was getting far too personal for his tastes. What he had done, or not done with Natalie was not his sire’s business. “I was there, waiting for you. I knew what you might do and was letting you do it.” He chuckled softly at the shocked expression that his words had produced. “The good doctor would be a fine addition to our entourage. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.” “So you were being a voyeur? That’s perverse even for you.” “Call it what you will but if I’d not arrived, you would not have stopped. You would not have left even enough for me to bring her across. You don’t have that kind of control with the women you love. You never have.” “But you didn’t bring her across. You took her to the hospital. Why?” “You weren’t ready for her to be a vampire. Not yet. I knew we’d be back.” “Then why the protests now?” “You aren’t ready for the confrontation yet, and I’m not sure she is either. You have barely healed from your wounds and she certainly has not.” LaCroix stepped away, walking over to the side table to refill his bloodwine. “You told me you’d leave if she didn’t remember you.” “I said I’d leave if she wanted nothing to do with me.” “And?” “She’s agreed to see me. Give me some time.” He pleaded. He was not ready for his dream to end so quickly. “Time is one thing that we have in abundance,” he commented. He was not happy with this development although it was not totally unexpected. He feared that the only thing that would truly restore Natalie’s memories, and health would be to brought across completely. Would she consent to that if she did not remember the events of the past? “You must take care though. It is too soon for you to be in Toronto. You might be seen.” “I won’t be,” he said confidently. “There is a limit to my patience for foolish endeavors, Nicholas,” he said with a sigh. He had truly hoped that Nick would give up this desire when he saw that she was changed and was no longer the woman he’d known and loved. “Restoring memories lost to a vampire’s hypnotism is one thing. When they are lost to a damaged brain, it is another thing all together. You may not be able to bring them back.” He paused for a moment before continuing. “If she does not remember the community, do not push it. It is best that we allow those memories to stay buried.” Chapter 04/ Promptly at 6 am, Nick knocked on the apartment door. He’d carefully listened for a second heartbeat. Most of the young helpers were not a concern, but he dared not run into Jenny Schanke. He could hear Natalie call out and shuffle over to the door. Opening it cautiously, she peered into the hallway, and then motioned him in, commenting, “I guess we must have been friends. I never told you where I lived.” “I didn’t want to startle you, Nat,” he smiled, holding up a key ring. “I still have the key.” She took the keys and compared it to the one she had sitting on the hall table. “Why do you have my key?” “I told you. We’re friends.” “Uh huh,” she nodded. She was still skeptical and certainly didn’t understand the motives of this mysterious man but something inside her had convinced her to at least listen to him. Maybe he was the key to unlocking that portion of her brain that had been frozen since the accident. “Can I get you something to drink?” “No thanks,” he said following her into the living room. He deliberately took the chair opposite hers. He didn’t dare sit on the sofa with her. The memory was sharp for him, and it pained him to realize she probably didn’t remember it. It was hard not to think of that magical Valentine’s Day. Had it only been four years previous? “I’m sorry. I’m really at a loss here. I don’t even know your name.” She saw how he glanced around the apartment. He seemed far too familiar with it, and with her. “I’m Nick,” he replied. “I see you still have the picture.” He gestured to the framed picture from the department’s Holiday Ball. It was the first time they’d gone as a couple. The gossips had had a field day after the first waltz ended with a kiss that was more intense than one would expect from friends. He remembered that night as if it had just happened and mourned the fact that she did not. “That’s you?” she questioned, standing to take the picture to examine it closer. The sudden movement threw off her equilibrium and she stumbled and tripped on the carpet. Falls were more common than she wanted to admit and she had resigned herself to yet another bruise. Before she hit the floor, she found herself securely in his arms. Nothing was said as he gently helped her into the chair and handed her the picture. “You okay?” he asked gently as he returned to his seat on the couch. “Umm, yeah, thanks,” she murmured. “I do that far too often.” She took the photograph but kept her eyes on him. There was something about him that seemed so familiar and yet… “There’s something I want to say. It won’t make a lot of sense to you, but please, hear me out.” “Okay,” she agreed. “I’m sorry, Nat. I’m sorry I didn’t do as you asked. I’m sorry I left you. I never intended to leave you. I had my reasons but I realize now that they were selfish reasons. Can you forgive me?” She was silent, holding the frame tightly as he spoke. “Nick, I don’t know what to say. You’re apologizing for something that I don’t remember. I think your apology is sincere but I don’t understand what’s going on here. You seem familiar. I have your picture displayed as if it means something to me and yet, I don’t know you.” “Would you trust me to help you remember?” “What do you have in mind? The doctors told me that memory loss is part of a stroke and I wouldn’t get anything more back.” “That might be true,” he acknowledged. “If your memory loss comes just from your stroke, I may not be able to help you. There are other things that could cause you to forget things.” He saw her eyes flash at him, questioning but willing to listen. “Have you ever been hypnotized?” “I don’t believe in hypnotism,” she replied sheepishly. “I guess I’m too much the scientist to believe in psychological disorders hiding memories or some such nonsense.” “This is different,” he explained. This was the Natalie he knew. Always the skeptic… “If you say so,” she said doubtfully. “At this point, I’d welcome anything to get past that fog. You don’t know what it’s like to lose several years of your life. I was supposed to testify last week and even after reading all my reports couldn’t give credible testimony. They ended up with a plea bargain. Some maniac got a lesser sentence because of me.” “You don’t know that,” he said gently. He was only too familiar with the self-incrimination guilt she felt. He’d experienced the same thing more times than he could count. “A thousand other things could have happened. You know how defense attorneys find loopholes” “You sound familiar with the process,” she laughed. She was silent for a moment, trying to pull something from her memories. Why would this stranger who claimed to be her friend, know so much about court procedures? Surely it wasn’t simply from watching television. “You honestly think that you could hypnotize me into remembering the past two years?” “I can try. I’ve had some success with hypnotism but that doesn’t mean it’ll work. You have to trust me.” “Strangely enough, I do trust you, Nick. You’re welcome to try it.” She focused on him, not completely understanding why she’d be willing to let this complete stranger probe her mind. He knelt on the floor in front of her. He sensed her unease with the entire situation. Waiting for her brief nod of encouragement, he spoke calmly. “Natalie, relax and look at me. Release your will to me,” his voice took on the deep, hypnotic tone as he captured her heart beat. He didn’t know if it would work. Hypnosis didn’t last with her, at least it hadn’t. When they’d first met, she’d seemed to be under his influence but it hadn’t lasted. “You will remember.” Lost in the deep pools of his blue eyes, Natalie was filled with the sound of her own heart beat. She was not aware of anything as images filled her mind. Another day, another time, things that made no sense to her. She vaguely heard a voice saying calmly, “Natalie, come back to me.” “Wh-what?” she shook her head and glanced around the room. She saw the wisps of sunlight peaking around the drawn curtains. Nick was now standing on the opposite side of the room. He watched her intently but made no attempt to touch her. “Are you okay?” he asked gently. Her response was totally unexpected. He wasn’t sure if she’d lost consciousness but it had been an hour since he’d thought he’d released her. “Okay is a relative term,” she gave a bitter laugh. “At least that’s what my therapist keeps telling me. I’m still here. I’m able to work.” “That wasn’t what I meant.” She leaned forward, holding her head in her hands. “I figured. I wish I could tell you more, but nothing makes any sense. My mind is a jumble.” “Too much?” “What?” “I gave you too much at once,” he sighed. At least that is what he was hoping. That he could deal with. “That’s funny, I don’t remember you telling me anything more than when we started.” She leaned back against the cushions, massaging her temples. “I have such a headache.” “Maybe you should rest. We can try again another day.” “If you think so. I’m willing to give it another shot but…” she hesitated before continuing. “But, what?” Nick prompted. “You know I’m a doctor,” she began, taking a deep breath. “Since the attack, I’ve done a lot more reading about strokes. I may not be a neurologist but I can admit what he won’t.” “And what’s that?” “Return of function happens over the first two years following the insult. I won’t be getting any more function or memory than I have not. I know it and he knows it.” “Then why keep going to therapy?” She looked at him curiously. “Are you following me?” “Would it bother you if I had been?” She sighed heavily. Her mind was working overtime. In some ways, she had legitimate reason to be frightened by the ideas that a strange man was so interested in her movements. Her attacker had never been identified so she should have been disturbed by it. Why wasn’t she? “I know I should be, but I’m not.” He leaned over and gently kissed her temple. “I’m glad. I mean you no harm, Natalie. You’ve been very kind to let me into your home. I won’t keep you any longer.” “I don’t mind you coming over. It’s nice to have someone other than my helpers visit.” “Is someone expected soon?” “Not until 3 o’clock this afternoon.” “I’ll come over tomorrow. Maybe it’ll work better the next time.” “Maybe,” she said doubtfully, watching the man leave. Why was it so important for this stranger that she remember him? Chapter 05/ “So how did your meeting with Dr. Lambert go?” “Fine,” Nick replied, finishing the glass of blood that his sire had set in front of him as soon as he’d arrived at the townhouse. Nick had hidden himself in the underground garage until sunset. He had realized as soon as he left Natalie’s apartment that it was too late for him to leave the building. The sun had crested over the horizon, warming the world for another day. He’d not regained his tolerance yet. It had taken him almost a century off human blood to achieve the ability to survive the sun’s rays for brief periods. Now, when he slipped a hand past the heavy curtains of his room, it didn’t simply steam; the flames rose almost immediately. He could extinguish it quickly and heal himself but he knew that he couldn’t take the risks anymore. “Hmm, fine? You don’t act like it was fine.” LaCroix commented, inclining his head toward the windows. “Although she did shelter you today.” “Not exactly,” he confessed. “I stayed in the garage until sunrise.” He saw the frown his sire gave him. “Don’t lecture me.” “I have no intention of ‘lecturing’ you, mon fils.” “Since when?” Nick sighed. “You thrive on pointing out my shortcomings.” “Only when warranted.” He refilled his glass and asked pointedly, “So your hypnosis didn’t work?” “No,” he said sullenly. “It gave her a headache but she said everything was a jumble and didn’t make sense.” “Well that’s it then. It was a fantasy to think you’d be able to bring something back. I’ll start making the preparations to leave.” “You can’t mean that,” Nick said vehemently. He knew where his sire was headed. They had argued, sometimes violently until Nick finally appeared to acquiesce. In reality, he’d determined that he would have to escape. LaCroix would not have willingly allowed him to leave if he’d known that the destination was Toronto. “You are certain this is what you want?” “Yes. I’ve never been more sure of anything.” “I should have asked you that 800 years ago,” he commented dryly. “May I make a suggestion?” He waited for Nick’s silent nod. “Take her to dinner at L’azure.” The mere mention of the restaurant brought Nick to attention. It was the horrible end to a wonderful day. He had Natalie had confessed their love for each other. Unfortunately, LaCroix had interfered, calling in an ancient bargain that he’d made with Nick. “She doesn’t remember that.” “Are you certain?” “She barely remembers my name. Why would she remember that one night when she doesn’t remember anything else?” “So she says. How do you know she isn’t holding back? Did you ask?” “Ask her what? I’m telling you she didn’t even remember my name.” “When you had her under your control, what did you do?” “Nothing. I told her to remember.” He sighed. For all his centuries of experience, sometimes he wondered how Nick had survived so long. He never used his abilities to their fullest. “You might have to guide her. If she’s buried those events deep within her subconscious, it will take a little more effort to bring them out.” “I don’t want to force her. It’s bad enough that I’m trying to probe her mind. That’s something she’d never have allowed me to do.” “I realize that. Her resistance is quite strong. If you don’t use a little more strength to ease the memories to the front, you’ll need something to stimulate her. White roses, perhaps?” The reference wasn’t lost on Nick. White roses had been the calling card the LaCroix had used with his invitation to lure her to the restaurant. “I don’t think so. I’ve been trying to use a familiar place but the loft isn’t an option. I was in her apartment.” “I would doubt you ever attempted to hypnotize her at her home. We both know that she succumbed to hypnosis at the restaurant. That might be the only time.” “That was your doing. I was never able to completely get her under control.” “I suppose you want me to try then.” LaCroix’s voice was controlled. He did not want to get Nick’s hopes up since he didn’t think he’d have any more luck than his son. “Would you?” He had not intended to come right out and ask but he was only too aware that his sire had skills that he’d never mastered. “I suppose I could be persuaded. If for no other reason, it will convince you that your plan is futile.” He took a deliberate swallow and met Nick’s gaze. “A vampire’s hypnosis can’t bring back memories lost to a stroke.” “At least not while she is still mortal. We don’t know what would happen if she was brought across.” “True,” he mused. “So that is your plan?” “I thought we’d already agreed.” “We did. I wasn’t sure if you were still of a mind to keep trying.” He laughed bitterly. “I should have known. If nothing else, you are persistent.” ******* In retrospect, persistence was the right term. Nick’s plan was just beginning to take shape. He had very little time to get their relationship back to the place it had been after six years. While they’d spent most of that time dancing around and avoiding their feelings, he didn’t have the luxury to sit around and see if they could get back to where they’d been. He wasn’t sure how long LaCroix would wait for him. Operation ‘Romancing the doctor’ was in full steam. The gift basket was waiting on Natalie’s desk when she arrived. No one knew where it had come from, who’d sent it or more importantly, how it had gotten through security undetected. Natalie knew. If Nick had gotten past the guards to see her once, he certainly could do it to bring her a gift. It brought a secret smile to her. “OK, spill,” Grace said sternly, exploring the basket’s contents in search of a card. “You know something.” “Maybe.” Natalie replied. She inhaled deeply, enjoying the aroma of fresh coffee. It was clear that Nick remembered her tastes more than she remembered of him. Coffee, chocolate and popcorn. Everything a busy coroner needed to get through the night. “But you won’t tell me?” she pleaded. In truth, she was happy to just see Natalie happy again. Working so closely, she was well aware that the accident had taken more than just a physical toll on her friend. The emotional cost had been great. If Natalie had a secret admirer, she wasn’t about to complain about it. Actually, she’d like to thank whoever it was. “Not tonight,” she said cheerfully. “Now then. I do believe we have work to do.” She sat at the desk, taking the top file out of the ‘IN’ box. Chapter 06/ He was waiting when she opened the door to her apartment that morning. A fire cast a light glow to the living room and she could smell the fresh coffee brewing. “I could get used to this,” she smiled, setting her briefcase by the door. He was by her side quickly, helping her take her coat off. “That’s the general idea,” he said softly. “Thank you for the basket of goodies,” she turned and faced him, merely inches from him. Her heart beat faster as she looked into his clear blue eyes. “I knew it was from you.” “Did I get things right?” He asked, wrapping his arms around her loosely. “Absolutely,” she replied, relaxing in his embrace. Her heart was beating faster with anticipation as he leaned in closer and lightly kissed her. “You’ve gotten a lot of things right.” “I aim to please,” he murmured, leading her over to the couch. He sat next to her and held her hands. Lightly caressing her left arm, he asked quietly. “Do you feel it?” “Sort of,” she commented quietly. It was not something she enjoyed talking about but somehow she trusted him. “I feel the pressure of you touching me, but it’s like it’s asleep. I can move it, but it doesn’t always do what I want.” “Frustrating?” “More than I can tell you. Even if I wanted to hug you, I’d have to lift the arm to get it around your neck. Sometimes I call my left arm Fred, just so I can blame my clumsiness in a way that’s rationale.” Nick laughed, wrapping his arm around her shoulder, smiling as she leaned against his chest. “You have nothing to be ashamed of.” His voice took on a thoughtful tone. “What do you remember of your accident?” “Not much,” she sighed. “Do you want to remember it?” “We’ve been through this already, Nick. I don’t care if I remember the attack but I would like to remember the past 6 years. I’d like to remember you.” “Do you want me to try again?” “Go ahead,” she agreed, sitting back against the cushions. She stared into his deep blue eyes without being told. If nothing else, the hypnosis sessions relaxed her. She’d forget about the spasms in her back that she couldn’t control, the pain in an arm that seemed to be reawakening after a long sleep. **** “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Nick repeated. He’d broken the loose hypnotic tie between them and backed away. Even with direct questioning, she couldn’t or wouldn’t say who or what he was, how they’d met. “For what?” Natalie looked up, meeting his intense gaze squarely. “I told you when we first started that I wasn’t expecting anything. I’m more comfortable and for that I’m grateful.” “I know I didn’t promise anything, but I really wanted it to work.” His voice had softened but still had a harsh edge to it. “I won’t put you through this again.” “Through what? Nick, I’ve just been sitting here. You’ve helped me to calm myself. Yes, I’d like to remember the past 6 years but I’ve never thought that hypnosis would do it.” “Then what do you think would?” He’d suddenly had a thought. Neither of them had been confident in his ability to get past the block in her mind. Was it simply a self-fulfilling prophecy? “Nick, I had a stroke, okay?” She sighed, trying to hide her disappointment. While she’d been skeptical, she couldn’t help being hopeful in the success of this procedure. “Do you need to see my CT scans? There’s a big chunk that is basically gone. Anoxic hypoxia. Extreme blood loss will do that. The finest neurologists in Toronto worked on me. They did all that they could. I’m lucky to have regained what I did. You tried something and it didn’t work. That’s okay, I didn’t expect it to. There is a limit to what holistic medicine can do.” “I know,” he said quietly. LaCroix’s words haunted him. Was this a lost cause? Could he simply walk away? “I’d still like to keep seeing you.” “I’d like that,” she spoke softly. It had been a long time since she’d been with a man romantically, at least that she remembered. It was very hard for her to generate the stiff formal demeanor she usually maintained around men she didn’t know. He claimed they were friends and she’d immediately softened. Maybe he was right. “Dinner maybe?” “I’m off Friday. Got anything special in mind?” “Absolutely. I’ll pick you up at 7. Wear something dressy,” Chapter 07/ Driving the caddy was out of the question, so Nick borrowed the car that LaCroix had left in Toronto- a sleek black Jaguar convertible with leather seats. Unlike his protégé, LaCroix preferred the modern blend of power and elegance over trunk space. Although he’d never admit it out loud, Nick enjoyed the smooth ride as he drove to Natalie’s apartment more than the antique Cadillac. He’d taken LaCroix seriously and had darkened his hair slightly and had used a new false identity to make the reservations. “Ready?” Nick questioned as soon as she opened the door. “Just need to put on a coat,” she smiled, leaning on her cane while he came inside. “I think I can help there,” he commented as he slid the familiar tan coat over her shoulders. The coat fit loosely and he could tell that she’d lost weight. Wordlessly he buttoned the coat for her, their eyes not meeting. It seemed such a simple thing, but he could tell that it embarrassed her. “Milady,” he leaned slightly and took her left arm in his. “Oh, nice car,” she said enthusiastically when she saw him point the remote to the black convertible. “Only the finest, my dear,” he whispered. The ride was silent but he could sense the wheels were turning. She was obviously searching her memories for any clues to his identity. So far, she’d readily accepted him as a friend from her past even though the only evidence was in pictures. She was wide eyed when he pulled up to the restaurant’s valet. “We’re eating here?” she murmured. “Absolutely. I’m told it is one of the finest French restaurants in Toronto.” “Oh, uh, okay,” she stammered. She’d only heard of L’azure by reputation and reading reviews with a sigh of envy. Any place that was rated with 5 stars and they meant the price, not just the quality was beyond her budget. “Natalie, I can afford it. You won’t be washing dishes.” She shot him a wicked smile and laughed. He walked around and opened the door for her. With some effort, she slid sideways and strained to get her leg to come with her. Her expression saddened as she said in a low voice. “Nick, this car is too low. I can’t get out.” “It’s okay, Natalie. I’m here to help.” He crouched next to the car door and helped her plant both feet on the ground before sliding an arm under her left elbow and gently pulling her up. “I hate that,” she frowned. “I should have asked before I came in a convertible, Nat. I didn’t think.” “You don’t need to apologize, Nick,” she straightened her shoulders and cleared her throat. Nick could see the stiff ‘Dr Lambert’ face. It was the one she wore for all the worst crime scenes, the ones that were so emotionally devastating that she’d gone into her shell. He hated to see her doing that for something that was so routine as getting out of a car. As they were led to their table, Nick could tell that she was studying the décor intently. Maybe this would open her mind more than his attempts at hypnotism. “What’s so fascinating?” he asked as they were seated. To his delight they were in the same table that he’d seen her with LaCroix. The plants and flickering candles were as he’d remembered. The only difference was the quiet movement of waiters, and the low buzz of conversations. “Have you ever had a sense of déjà vu?” she glanced around, staring up at the skylight. “I know I’ve never been here and yet it seems familiar.” “Are you sure you’ve never been here? After all, there are several years of your life that you don’t remember in any detail.” “That’s true,” she acknowledged. “But unless you brought me here, I can’t imagine anyone else who would.” Her voice lowered to a bare whisper. “Even without the prices on my menu, I know it’s out of my budget.” “Speaking of which,” he gestured to the menu. “Order whatever you desire. I can afford the best for you.” She blushed at the tone of his comment. His gaze had become more intent and she squirmed uncomfortably. “Nick, uh, I don’t speak French. I’m not sure what to order.” “Do you trust me?” “You got the basket right. I’m not sure how, but you know my tastes. Go ahead.” With her assurances, he nodded to the waiter and placed their order in fluent French. “OK, what did you order for me?” “Snails,” he said with an evil smile. “No, you didn’t,” she exclaimed, frowning at him until she saw the teasing expression. “Really, what did you order? “Lamb for the entrée,” he replied quickly. “I thought you trusted me.” “I was just curious, that’s all.” She was silent for a moment, absorbing the atmosphere. She couldn’t shake the feeling that his choice of restaurant was for a purpose. “Trust is a funny thing, Nick,” she mused. “I’m usually more cautious. I don’t know what it is about you.” She watched his reaction closely. “What is it that you aren’t telling me?” “It’s what you aren’t telling yourself, Natalie,” he said slowly, falling silent as the waiter approached with their wine. He had sensed that LaCroix was in the restaurant. They’d agreed that buying out the restaurant would have intimidated her too much but Nick didn’t know how or when his sire would come to their table. “What does that mean, Nick?” she puzzled. She’d waited until the waiter had left the table. Somehow she knew that her dinner companion guarded his privacy and would not want their discussion to be overheard. “Indeed. What could you mean by that, Nicholas?” the smooth voice seemed to float down to their table. Natalie jumped slightly, looking around for the sound. “Did you hear that?” She seemed surprised that Nick merely sipped the wine. “Yes, I heard it,” he confirmed, his eyes glancing up to see LaCroix glide confidently across the restaurant. Pulling a chair over, he sat next to Nick. “Who… who’s this?” she stuttered. “I’m a friend of Nicholas. I doubt you remember me.” “You wouldn’t be the first person that I don’t remember,” she commented with a nervous laugh. She wasn’t sure what it was about the older man that seemed so compelling. She couldn’t help staring into his deep blue eyes, loosing herself in his low voice. She felt herself drifting farther and farther away. “Ah, Ms. Lambert, you are not fighting me this time. I am so happy.” He whispered, not meeting Nick’s urgent glance. There was a calculated risk in doing this so publicly but he’d agreed that it was necessary. He’d begun by asking the same questions that Nick had asked earlier. She still claimed not to remember him, Nick or anything about the past six years. LaCroix told Nick using their vampiric bond. Startled at the unexpected voice in his head, Nick responded It had been a long time since Nick had felt LaCroix this intimately. He hadn’t realized that the close proximity to his sire had reinforced their bond to the point they could communicate across it. LaCroix nodded slowly before asking gently, “Have you ever been to this restaurant before?” “Once,” she replied in a monotone. “So, you remember our previous visit?” he asked, remaining still. In truth, he was surprised that she remembered their encounter. He knew that Nick had taken advantage of the fact she was still under hypnotic influence to remove the memory of the dinner. That she could now discuss it, even after having a stroke told him how strong she really was. “You talked about love.” “Indeed. So you love Nicholas?” “Yes,” she stated. Her voice still held the quiet, still tone of someone who was not in full control of their words. Nick remained silent. He hadn’t intended for the discussion to go this direction. “How much do you love him? Would you join him?” “Yes, I would. I wanted him to bring me across. I still do.” There was a hint of tears in the corners of her eyes. “Perhaps that can be arranged,” LaCroix spoke steadily feeling the thrum of anxiety coming from his bond with Nick. It was as he suspected. The stroke had reinforced the post-hypnotic blocks he’d placed. The memories were there, just waiting for the right event to trigger them. he responded to Nick telepathically. Nick responded. His anxiety was increasing. They were so very close. LaCroix took Natalie’s hand gently. “I hope to see you again, my dear.” He disappeared as quickly as he’d arrived. “Are you okay, Nat?” “What?” she shook her head slightly. She wasn’t sure what had just happened. “You looked a little pale. Too much wine?” “Uh, no, umm, I’m okay,” she stammered. To her surprise, the waiter was already at their table with the entree. Her salad was in front of her untouched. Somehow she thought meals would take longer in a fancy restaurant. When she glanced at her watch, she was startled to see that they’d been at the restaurant for almost an hour. Either that or her watch had stopped temporarily. “Did I guess right?” he asked gently, seeing her shake her head slightly. “Oh, uh, it looks great,” she relaxed, taking a deep breath. She hesitated for a moment before speaking, her voice low and hesitant. “Nick, I’ll need some help. I can’t cut the meat.” “Of course,” he nodded and reached across the table to cut her food into small pieces. The more that he was around her, the more he hurt for her. It wasn’t the loss of memory that pained her, it was the loss of independence. No matter how much she’d protest to the contrary, she was now dependant on the help of others for simple, basic things. That, more than anything, was enough to convince him that bringing her across was not selfish. Chapter 08/ It was close to midnight. After they’d returned from the restaurant, Nick had built a fire in Natalie’s fireplace. From the looks of it, he doubted it had been used since he’d been there several years previous until he’d returned. In the months preceding the ill-fated attempt to make love, they’d spent more time at his loft. With closed eyes and obvious embarrassment, Natalie had allowed Nick to help her change out of her dress into more comfortable sweats. He’d simply asked if her helpers were coming over and with a gentle touch on her shoulders had reassured her that he would do nothing that she was not willing to do. “I hate this. You know I do.” “Yes, I know,” he replied gently. “You’re the strongest woman I know.” “Not any more,” she gave a bitter laugh as she leaned on her cane before slowly following him into the living room. “Oh, Nick, thank you.” “What?” “You made us a fire again.” She happily settled herself on the couch, propping the cane on the arm. “I know how you like staring at the flames,” he commented, sitting next to her on the couch. Since coming back, he’d been careful to keep his distance. Not tonight. He wasn’t sure how much LaCroix’s influence would help but he had to try. “I’m still amazed how well you know me,” she shook her head. “How do you do that? You think of things without me saying anything. I’d forgotten how calming it is.” “I know you don’t remember it, but I’ve known you for seven years.” “So you say.” She reached over with her right hand to take his. “I don’t want you to think that I don’t appreciate everything you’re doing, but I can’t help but wonder why.” “Is friendship not enough of a reason?” “It could be,” she acknowledged. “If that was your only motivation, where have you been for the past year? Where were you when I was in the hospital?” “I was also in an accident. I’ve been in rehab.” “Oh,” she responded, chagrined that she would question the only man who had paid her any romantic attention since the stroke. His presence had awakened something in her that she thought was gone forever. She didn’t question him further. If he wanted to tell her more, he would. She wouldn’t push the issue. “Am I forgiven?” he asked gently. “Yes, of course,” she smiled. “I think I can trust you to be brutally honest with me.” “I’ll try,” he said slowly. This had ominous overtones. Usually when Natalie wanted him to be that honest, it was something that he really didn’t want to discuss. Over the years, they’d had some frank discussions about both of their lives. She knew more about vampirism than any human ought to know. She hadn’t said that she now remembered his secret nature but she might have simply wanted to wait until they had privacy. “Was I always this moody?” she leaned back into the couch and stared at the fire. She could go from joy to anger in a blink of an eye. Not only was it disconcerting, but her coworkers now tip-toed around her for fear of her wrath. “You’ve always had a, umm, temper. You didn’t show it as much as I, but people knew that if you were angry to drop the subject.” Their eyes met and he almost saw a glimmer of recognition. He was close. With a little push, he could probably break through the barrier in her mind. “Nick, I’m not used to all this attention. Please be patient with me,” she murmured with a yawn. Her eyes had grown heavy from his mental push. “Of course,” he agreed quickly. “Can I come over tomorrow?” “What are you thinking? I’m working until 3, and will be on pager until 7.” “I’ll be over after your shift.” He stood and helped her to stand. He wasn’t sure that she’d be able to get off the couch without major effort. It hadn’t occurred to him that she would need to sit so that she could use her right arm to get the momentum to stand. She silently acknowledged his assistance but didn’t look up. It was as if she was embarrassed to need help. That would be so like the Natalie he remembered. ***** Nick returned to the townhouse shortly before dawn. He’d missed being able to simply drive around the city and think. He knew in his heart that his desires were not selfish. Natalie wouldn’t want to spend the rest of her life dependant on others if she had the choice. What he’d done on that night was unforgivably selfish. He could only hope that when the memories did come back, she’d want to take that next step. Chapter 09/ He was waiting in the apartment precisely at 3 am. He was ready to push her for answers. The barriers could be toppled, he knew it. He wanted her relaxed and ready so he’d prepared a complete meal for her. The coffee was brewed. The table was set. He’d filled the CD player with classical music and had started it at a low volume. He heard the rattle of keys at the door, and he went over and opened it for her. “Ah, something smells very good here.” She hung her cane on the doorknob and slid the briefcase off her shoulder. That was yet another adaptation for her- the case that was worn slung over her shoulder. “Only the finest, milady,” he bowed and kissed her hand. Helping her off with her coat, he gestured to the kitchen. “I hope you’re hungry.” “Hmmm. So, you know how to cook, eh?” “I try very hard. My repertoire is not extensive but I can do French toast and bacon.” “You sure you aren’t French?” she teased. She inhaled the aroma from the mug of coffee that was waiting her. “Yes, I’m sure.” He replied, placing a plate in front of her. She glanced up and saw only a coffee mug at his seat. “What about you?” “I ate before you got here,” he commented, taking a sip from his mug. He had been careful to use a black mug and not leave it where she could see it. Between the scented candles and the food, he could only hope that she wouldn’t notice what was in his mug. “This is wonderful,” she smiled, reaching across the table to take his hand when she’d finished her meal. “Thank you.” “You are quite welcome,” he replied, taking her hand and helping her to stand. “Shall we adjourn to the living room?” “Yes, that would be wonderful,” she sighed with delight. She’d revealed very few details of her dinner to Grace. Somehow, she wanted to keep her relationship with Nick private. It was enough that her co- workers knew of her happiness. They didn’t need to know the specifics. “How was your shift?” he murmured, allowing her to lean against him. It was her left side, the weak one that touched him. “Uneventful. No new cases. Hardest part of the entire evening was not discussing last night.” “And why was that?” “Grace is relentless,” she declared. “She’s my assistant and knows more about what’s going on within the department than anyone. I didn’t feel like feeding the grapevine. I told her I went out to dinner.” “Oh that’s cruel. You didn’t tell her the who or where, just the what?” “Let me tell you, it wasn’t easy. If she could hypnotize me, like you tried to do, I’m sure I would have told her everything.” “Everything?” “Including how blue your eyes are,” she murmured, snuggling against him. In her heart she knew this was right. This man had captured her long ago. She kept her gaze on the fire before speaking. “Nick, you knew me before the attack?” “You could say that,” he replied slowly. “Natalie. I’ll believe anything you say. If you’re ready to talk, I’m here to listen. You were attacked?” “That’s what everyone believes.” “But you don’t?” he persisted. She sighed, turning slightly to look at him. “You are determined, aren’t you?” Taking a deep breath, she began a slow narrative. “When I woke up from the coma, I was told that they’d found me in an alley, beaten and robbed. My throat had been slashed, or so they thought.” “You don’t think it was?” “Nick, I’m taking you at your word that you’ll believe what I tell you.” Her voice softened, The images were coming into focus. “I saw… oh, I don’t know what I saw.” “You don’t know what you saw?” his voice was hopeful as he pleaded with her. “Describe what you saw.” “Images, feelings, I guess.” She saw his expression and was encouraged. There was something in it that made her want to make sense of the myriad of images that still filled her mind. “It’s like when you hypnotized me. I saw things. You and I. It doesn’t make sense.” “Tell me,” he pleaded. “Your eyes... they were glowing.” Her eyes narrowed, “you’re going to think I’m crazy.” “Try me. I can be very open-minded.” She hesitated but in many ways this could be the clue that would tie together all of the strange dreams that she’d had. “You’re a, umm, okay, you’ll think this is bizarre but, umm, are you, umm, a vampire?” She stuttered the question, focusing on her hands, afraid to make eye contact. She didn’t see him move, but he was suddenly there, taking her hands in his. “You’re so cold.” “I’m dead,” he replied solemnly, hoping that the phrase would spark her memory of their first meeting. “What?” she met his intent gaze but instead of seeing the man sitting on the floor in front of her, she saw him in a body bag, his dirt and blood stained face healing before her eyes. She shook her head to clear the thoughts and stared at him. “You are a vampire. You were in my lab.” “Eight years ago,” he confirmed. “I stopped a gang robbery and was blown up by a pipe bomb.” “Okay,” she said slowly. The pieces were coming together now. The images of vampires that filled her dreams were not just illusions of a damaged brain that had seen too many movies. “Well, I guess that explains how you could hypnotize me.” “Actually, no. You don’t hypnotize, or at least you didn’t. I can put you to sleep, but I can’t get you to answer questions with any more certainty than you’d have if you were awake.” He didn’t mention that that LaCroix had been able to use a little mind control with her. “Then how do I now remember you?” “The memories were there all along, weren’t they?” he prompted. “In dreams, perhaps?” She nodded, “but they didn’t make sense. I didn’t think anyone would believe me.” “They probably wouldn’t.” He paused for a moment realizing that while she had remembered his special nature, she didn’t seem to remember much else. At least, she hadn’t mentioned anything more. “Not that it’s something you should discuss with anyone but me.” “Why not?” She sighed heavily. “What else aren’t you telling me?” “Just trust me. This is knowledge that could put you in grave danger.” “Nick, I’ve faced death. I’m not afraid of it.” Her expression was bitterly honest. She’d been to the abyss and fought her way back. Whatever it was that he wasn’t telling her couldn’t make her any more afraid than she’d been. “What do you remember of it?” “Before the attack or afterwards?” she questioned. “When I first woke up, I didn’t know anything. I barely knew my own name. I could only answer yes or no. I had to learn to talk again, to sit, walk and feed myself.” Her tone was matter of fact but Nick knew her too well. Whether or not she blamed him or not, he’d always blame himself. “What about before? What do you remember?” His voice had taken on a gentle, yet commanding tone. It was not unlike the way he would speak when he had someone under hypnotic control. He knew she was fully cognizant of her words and thoughts this time. “Nick, I’m not sure I should say it.” “Please, Natalie. Tell me,” he held her hand tightly, pleading with his voice and expression. “I dreamt that a vampire bit me.” She hesitated for a moment, pulling away to see his reaction. He’d tried to hide it, but she saw the sorrow in his expression. She knew the truth in that moment. “You wouldn’t know anything about that would you?” “It’s not what you think,” he said quickly. He wasn’t ready for the discussion to go there yet. “How do you know what I think? Nick, did you bite me?” Her dreams made sense now. She’d not understood how a vampire’s bite could be tender, even erotic. Just what had their relationship been? He nodded, taking her hands tightly. Whether he wanted it or not, he was going to have to face this discussion with her. “I wish you could understand the state of mind we were both in.” “It’s strange” she mused. “The movies always show a vampire’s bite as being violent, something aggressive. In my dream, it was, oh, umm, erotic. Like a kiss.” She leaned against him. “Am I close?” “Yes, you are,” he confessed. “Yes, I bit you. Please, Natalie, try to understand. I was not trying to attack you. I was trying to make love to you,” he murmured, kissing her temple. “Then how did I end up in an alley alone?” she asked, her voice rising with fear. No matter how much he said he’d not attacked her… someone had. “I don’t know. I was knocked unconscious by an older and more powerful vampire. I woke up in Paris a week later.” He spoke carefully. It was a partial truth, but he wasn’t ready to tell Natalie that he’d watched LaCroix make the preparations to leave. He’d seen his sire carry her out, promising that she would live. It was true that he hadn’t probed for exact details how Natalie had made it to the hospital. Now he wished he’d been more explicit. “It took you almost two years to come back?” she was trying to keep anger out of the discussion. She knew he’d said he was injured. Was that the truth or just something to keep her from questioning him? “Some things were not in my control. Like you, I had to heal.” “I thought vampires were immortal. Or is that just another myth?” “It’s not exactly a myth. It isn’t easy, but we can be hurt, even killed. Don’t you watch the movies?” he leaned over to kiss her forehead. “I was staked.” “But you didn’t die? I thought that was how a vampire could be killed.” “Got ideas now?” he asked solemnly. He pulled away from her and unbuttoned his shirt. Against the pallor of his skin was a jagged pink scar. It was the only thing that would leave a scar on a vampire’s body. A clear sign of a heart that had been pierced. “It has to go through the heart, and stay there. He missed.” “I didn’t mean anything, Nick. I’m still trying to understand what happened to me. This has been a very strange week for me. All of a sudden, I have someone back in my life that isn’t supposed to be alive.” Something clicked in her mind and she pulled away, turning to face him again. “You’re the detective. The one that no one will mention around me.” “Yes, I am. I was known as Nick Knight,” he nodded. “It’s good that you didn’t say anything to Grace. She would have insisted on coming over to see me. I worked as a homicide detective here for six years.” “And we were, umm, a couple?” “That was the rumor.” She swatted his shoulder lightly. “Oh, come on. The way everyone tiptoes around me, we had to have had some kind of relationship.” “It’s complicated. At least that’s what you told everyone.” “Complicated,” she repeated. “I want to hear it from you. The complete, unadulterated version.” “Truth?” “Truth,” she prompted. “Come on Nick, spill.” “We had reasons to keep things private but yes, we were more than friends.” “How much more?” she whispered. “We weren’t lovers, at least not yet.” “But we came close?” “Several times,” he confirmed. “I wasn’t sure I could control the vampire if we were completely intimate.” “So you pulled back.” She closed her eyes, as if pulling memories from deep in her mind. “You lived in a warehouse.” “Yes, I did. I prefer isolated areas. It’s easier.” “I remember sleeping on a couch. You were wearing black silk pajamas.” “You came over a lot. You knew my secret so I had to trust you with things that I couldn’t say to anyone else.” “You keep saying ‘your secret’. Do you mean the fact that you’re a vampire?” “Natalie, I warned you already. It isn’t something we can openly discuss. The fact that vampires exist in other than mythology is not for public knowledge. You are the only one who knew what I am.” “So that’s why they listed my attack as an assault. I read my file. No one mentioned vampires.” “You read your own police file?” “Morbid, isn’t it?” she said sheepishly. “I thought it would help me remember.” “Did it?” “No but it did confirm for all of my colleagues that nothing bothers me.” She finished the rest of her coffee and stared into the fireplace. “I’ve heard them talk. They say that my sense of humor is too dark now. They joke that I stepped over the edge when I almost died. I push people away constantly.” “That isn’t new, Nat. You’ve always been cautious with other people.” “Except for you.” She stared at him intently before continuing. Tact had never been her strong suit and if she wanted to know something, she’d ask. “Why did you come back? I mean, if everyone thinks you’re dead, why not stay dead?” “I wanted to see you.” “Why? Nick, I’d adjusted to my life, such as it is. Why try to remind me of a relationship with a dead man?” the tears welled up in her eyes. Getting the basket at work and being taken to dinner had given her the hope that this mysterious man could be back in her life for real. How could that happen if he was dead? “I told you it was selfish. I wanted to see if we could resurrect something. I couldn’t go on with my life wondering about what could have been.” “Great. That’s just great. I was perfectly content in blissful ignorance.” “Were you really?” he asked patiently. If she was going to accept his offer, she’d have to see it as a better life. That had only happened once… and he had been too foolish to see that she was right. “And just what is that supposed to mean?” she asked, her eyes narrowed. He recognized the expression all too well. It usually preceded some argument. “What if you never regain full use of your arm? Are you content to have other people dressing you, cooking for you?” “Nick, that isn’t fair. I’ve adjusted to my limitations. I do as much physical therapy as I can. The arm is getting stronger. I’ve made adjustments. I’ll get by.” “But will you be happy?” “I didn’t think that was part of the equation,” she replied bitterly. “You think I enjoy the way I am now? You think I enjoyed myself while learning to feed myself, bathe myself? For God’s sake, Nick, I had to wear diapers. I had to be potty trained like a two year old.” Her emotional outburst came as a complete surprise. No one had pushed her this hard since the stroke. She found herself saying things to this virtual stranger that she hadn’t said to anyone. She’d been told that psychological problems were not unusual. They might have suspected as much but even her doctor had dropped the suggestion for an antidepressant after one swift negative from her. For so long, she’d focused on what she *could* do, not what she *wanted* to do. It was not reassuring that it had only taken a week for Nick to figure it out. “Besides, you’re dead. Why should you care?” “Natalie, if you want me to come back in your life, I will. I’ll figure out a way.” “If I heard the rumors correctly, you died in a fire. How do you plan to fix that?” Her voice was calmer. “Give me time, Nat. If you want me to stay, I’ll find a way. If nothing else, I’ll dye my hair and wear glasses.” “You mean you’ll do a Clark Kent?” she deadpanned. She had noticed that his hair was a shade or two darker than the first day he’d appeared in the morgue. Now that she knew who he really was, she better understood why he’d done it and more importantly, that it wasn’t her imagination. “Superman I’m not, but I can be Clark Kent,” he promised. “You sure about that? I don’t know if it’s rumor or fact, but I seem to remember some pretty incredible things about vampires.” “Such as?” he prompted. “I told you, the memories are vague. It’s a feeling more than anything.” She was hesitant to put everything in words. It was overwhelming. “OK, I’ll let it go,” he said, glancing at the clock. “I need to go. The sun will be up soon.” “Jenny will be coming over this afternoon.” “Thanks for the warning. I’ll see you after your shift then.” He stood, leaning over her to give her a brief kiss before hurrying out the door. Chapter 10/ The sun was barely below the horizon. Nick had slept very little that day. For the first time since he’d been back in Toronto, he was confident that when he left, it would be with Natalie at his side. “You’ve not fed yet?” LaCroix handed him the full goblet that had been sitting on the table waiting. “I was thinking,” he explained, drinking the bloodwine in one swift swallow. “Ah, yes. Thinking,” he paced across the room until he stood directly in front of Nick. “I would presume that it is about the good doctor?” “Yes. I made some progress.” “You broke through the barriers?” “Not completely. She remembers how we met. She remembers that I’m a vampire.” “And the rest?” He waited for Nick to slowly shake his head to indicate the negative. “Some things might be best left alone.” “You can’t be serious.” “Deadly. Nicholas, she has to come to this decision on her own. Do not pressure her.” “I haven’t even made the offer.” “If she truly remembers you, and remembers your special nature, then she needs time.” He sensed Nick’s unease and realized the younger man hadn’t been completely honest. “She remembers your intimate contact.” Nick nodded slowly. “It has been haunting her dreams.” “But she doesn’t remember the rest?’ “No,” he said abruptly. “If she asks, I’ll tell her but given the choice, I’ll leave it alone.” ***** He heard voices coming from the apartment. Natalie had company. It took him a minute to recognize the voice as that of Natalie’s assistant. Grace must have pushed the right buttons. He knew that Grace was not immune to his psychic influence and realized it would be better to get it over with. If left to fester, the word would be all over town that Nick Knight had returned from the dead. That would invite attention that he didn’t want. Natalie came to the door with the first knock. “I thought you had a key,” she commented as she pushed open the door. “I could tell you had company. I didn’t want her to know you’d given me the key.” He leaned over and gently kissed her temple. If he was here for a show, he’d make it good. “So, did she hypnotize you?” “No, but I smiled too much.” From that, Nick knew that the outburst he’d witnessed last night was long overdue. She’d been holding things inside for far too long. “Natalie, who is it?” Grace’s voice came from the kitchen. “You expecting someone at 5 in the morning?” The teasing tone died on her lips when she came around the corner. “Oh, my God. It is you.” The shock was unmistakable. “Hello, Grace,” he said simply. There was no point in denying it now. He’d do damage control later. “You… you died.” She stammered. “That’s what I hear,” Nick replied pleasantly. He kept an arm around Natalie’s waist and kept walking to the living room. “But you’re here. How?” “Are you sure it was me in the fire?” he asked evenly. Truthfully, he didn’t want to have the files on his death re-opened. He only wanted to create enough doubt that she could be hypnotized. “I did the identification myself. We had dental records. We found your badge next to the body.” “So I suppose you wouldn’t believe that it was a case of mistaken identity. For example, someone stole my badge, replaced false dental records.” He saw her narrowed eyes. She didn’t like the fact he was questioning her work. “Could it be possible?” “If you say so,” she replied. “You’ve been making Natalie very happy. I hope you aren’t going to pull another disappearing act.” “Rest assured. If I could do so, I’d keep Natalie at my side for all eternity.” He squeezed Natalie’s hand and felt the shiver of desire that now ran through her body. “Hmm. If that’s the case, where’s the diamond ring?” Grace got to the point quickly. When Natalie had, under pressure, admitted who was sending secret gifts and taking her to fancy restaurants, she thought it was someone else who was taking advantage of her disability. She’d insisted on coming over to see this person that claimed to be Nick Knight. If this man was a fake, he was a very good one. “Grace, he hasn’t asked me to marry him,” Natalie said quickly. “No? What did that sound like to you?” Grace met Nick’s eyes directly. He’d been dancing around for long enough. Time to be direct. “Wasn’t that what you were implying?” “You’re right, Grace. That is what I was thinking. I would have preferred asking Natalie in a more private, more romantic setting but you’ve caught me.” “Well, it’s about time.” “I’d agree with you there.” He leaned a little closer, loosening his grip on Natalie as he captured Grace’s gaze, matching her heartbeat with his mesmorizing tone. “You will go home now. When you awake, you will remember only following Natalie home to help her. You didn’t see me here.” “Didn’t see you,” Grace repeated in a monotone. “You are happy that Natalie has a secret admirer. You will not ask anything about him.” “Will not ask.” “You’re identification of Nick Knight was correct. He is dead and gone. You did not see him. You did not hear Natalie talk about him. Do you understand?” “I understand.” He stepped away slowly and when out of eyesight, he dropped his hold. He nodded to Natalie and silently moved into the hallway. She shook her head, and opened her eyes wider. “Will you be okay now?” “I’m fine, Grace. Thanks for the ride.” “I’ll see you tonight, then.” Natalie followed Grace to the door and clicked the lock shut. Her eyes were blazing with anger when Nick came out of the kitchen. “How dare you!” she exclaimed. “Nat, I told you, I can’t be seen. I can’t be resurrected into my old life.” “You’ve taken away something very precious to her. Do you know how long she’s wanted us to get together? How happy she was for me.” “She thought I was a fraud. She came over to see who was taking advantage of you. She is protective. Like a mother hen.” “Like a brother,” Natalie breathed. She flashed on an argument. She and Nick in her kitchen. It was a different apartment, but the image was clear in her mind. “That isn’t how I see you,” he said quickly. “I know what you’re remembering. That was a long time ago.” “You’re still making decisions for me. I’m a big girl, Nick and if you’re serious about marrying me, you have to let me decide whether my friends can know about us.” “Not when it will put your life in danger. I won’t do that. I didn’t do it before and I certainly won’t do it now.” “Why would Grace knowing you were here, and we were getting married put my life in danger?” He led her to the couch and sat down, keeping his hands tightly clenched on his knees. “What would she have done? You said it yourself.” “She would have told everyone.” Natalie spoke slowly, realizing that her quick anger had blinded her to his reasons. “And then they would have re-opened the file on my death, and your attack. They would have insisted I come in for tests to prove that I was really Nick Knight. They would have asked for my DNA.” “There’s something in your DNA that identifies you as a vampire.” She spoke with assurance, the puzzle coming into place now. “My DNA is not human. You identified the anomaly in one of our attempts for a cure.” He froze her with a glance. “We’ll discuss that later.” “So they wouldn’t know what they were seeing.” “But they’d know it wasn’t normal, and it wasn’t human.” He leaned back, staring at the ceiling. “I am not the only vampire.” “You’re afraid of the Enforcers,” she breathed. The words came out before she’d had conscious thought. “You remember?” he asked, startled at her words. “Yes,” she nodded. “You were seen on TV film… flying. You can fly. They came to destroy the tape or kill you.” The memories tumbled forward. “We were looking for a cure. You don’t want to be a vampire.” “Welcome back,” he said simply. The eyes that met his were full of understanding. “You didn’t do as I asked. You didn’t bring me across.” “I thought I’d taken too much.” “You made the decision for me. You were talking to LaCroix. You refused to do it.” The images had crystallized in her mind. Fuzzy visions as her heart slowed. She was so very cold. So very still. “I was wrong. I was selfish.” “Damn right you were,” she exclaimed angrily. “So you come crawling back to me. Why?” “I want to get it right this time. I was serious when I told Grace that I’d like to have you at my side for eternity.” “You think I’m going to let you get your fangs anywhere near me?” “That isn’t what I’m asking, or offering.” He reached over and took her left hand. Running his thumb over it in small circles he began to speak. “First of all, I don’t want you to think this is because I’m feeling guilty. I caused your stroke. I gave you this disability. I love you Natalie. I want you with me now and forever.” “You had a strange way of showing it,” she commented dryly. “I know. I’m not very good at this. I never have been.” He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed it lightly before continuing. “I’ve tried to bring people across. I’ve failed more than I’ve succeeded. I’ve taken too much from women I thought I loved. I loved them with only a fraction of the feeling I have for you.” “What are you trying to say?” “I’m offering you eternal life. A life free of disease and disability.” “I’ll regain the use of my left side?” “Yes. You will be healed and you will never age.” “What’s the catch? Don’t say darkness, and a liquid diet. I know that part.” “I’m too afraid to try again. I don’t think the outcome would be any better. I lost a lot of my control after LaCroix staked me.” “You never did say how *that* happened.” “I thought I’d killed you. I had promised not to leave you. I asked LaCroix to send me to you in the afterlife.” The silence was palpable as she digested his words and put it together with the images in her mind. “You were going to give up 800 years, not knowing if we’d truly be together?” He nodded, pulling her closer to him. “IF you’re afraid to try, what then?” “If you are willing, LaCroix will bring you across,” he replied, keeping his voice neutral. “You’re serious? I thought you’d spent centuries trying to leave him. Now you’re suggesting that I bind myself to him as well. That doesn’t make sense.” “We’ve had time to mend some of the broken fences between us. I won’t lie and say all is well, but I think it’s the best option.” “And what did you have to give him in exchange?” With his look of surprise, she simply smiled, and laid her right hand over his. He still had her left hand loosely in his. “Nick, I’m not that naïve. He isn’t going to do something for you without you doing something for him.” “For someone who was claiming to not know me, you’ve figured things out pretty quickly,” he commented. “I promised to stay with him.” He felt her tension, and quickly continued. “You will need a lot of training. If he’s bringing someone across that he wanted to be with him, he isn’t likely to let you go very far.” “Did you just say he wanted me to be with him? Since when? He’s always acted like I’m his rival or something?” “You were. He’s a soldier. He recognized you as a worthy adversary. If you are now joining us, he wants you as an ally, not an enemy. He even said you’d be a, and I quote, fine addition to our entourage.” “OK, OK… this is getting too weird.” She pulled away, and with some effort, stood and walked over to the fireplace. She leaned heavily on the mantelpiece and took some deep breaths. “I appreciate the offer, Nick.” “But?” “It’s tempting. If you said that you were willing to try it again, I would have said no. I may remember you, remember what happened, but I don’t trust you with my life any more.” “I love you, Nat. I want what’s best for you. I see how you hurt.” He stepped closer, gently, stroking her back. “This is not out of pity but you’ve expressed your anger over the residual effects of the stroke. That could be gone.” “I told you, I was tempted. I haven’t said no, yet. Don’t pressure me.” “OK,” he said quickly, putting his hands in his pockets. She took a deep breath and walked into the kitchen. Silently refilling her coffee mug, she leaned against the counter and waited for him. She knew he’d follow her, and wasn’t disappointed to see him come into the room. He took the black mug and held it silently. “I’m a firm believer in informed consent. Tell me what you are offering.” “LaCroix has agreed to bring you across.” “That means what?” “You’d join my family. He is the patriarch. We would live under his roof. Travel together. He would teach you how to control your abilities and desires.” “He would teach me to kill?” “I won’t lie.” He met her eyes, setting the mug on the counter. “Yes. It is part of what I am, what you would be. No matter how much I try to deny it, he will expect that you learn how to feed from the source. He won’t allow you animal blood.” “What about you? You’ll be with me?” “Yes. I, uh, I’ve agreed to stay with him for a time.” “How long?” “It will seem like an eyeblink. Most of the first century, you are so focused on learning control that you don’t notice the passage of time.” “How long?” she repeated, this time a bit louder. “Three,” he shrugged. “Three what? Three years? Three decades?” she saw his expression and finally whispered, “three centuries?” He nodded silently, and reached over to take her hand. “How could you? Nick, you’re giving him 300 years?” “We’ll have each other. If you aren’t fighting him, he really isn’t a bad person. He enjoys the theater, music and dance. He’s agreed that I can have mortal jobs if I want. We can still marry. We can get married every ten years or so… different towns, different friends.” “You’re obsessed with seeing me in a white bridal gown, aren’t you?” she finally relaxed and allowed him to pull her into his embrace. “I’ve wanted it for the last 8 years, so why not?” he teased, kissing her lightly. “You’ll have to leave Toronto.” “I figured as much,” she said in a low voice. “Everyone thought I was insane to come back to the coroner’s office, especially on nights.” “Does that mean you’ll do it?” “I don’t know. Nick, it’s a lot to think about. What happens if I say no?” “LaCroix and I will go back to Paris. I won’t come back to Toronto again until all who knew me are gone. I’ll give you some contact information and if you change your mind, I’ll try to persuade LaCroix to come back. I won’t make the offer again. It’s on the table for you to consider.” “How long is he willing to wait?” “I don’t know. He’s been pushing me to leave ever since he found me here.” She leaned against his chest and spoke softly, knowing that he’d hear every word. “Give me a week. I don’t want to just disappear on Grace. If I agree to take your offer, I’ll come to the Raven.” “The club was closed when LaCroix left two years ago,” Nick commented. “I’ll give you an address. Come after sunset. His security system is better than mine and I don’t know the codes.” Chapter 11 “The offer has been made,” Nick announced, seeing his sire standing expectantly in the entryway. “You are here alone, but yet I don’t sense sorrow. Where is she?” “She wanted a week to think about it and make preparations to leave.” “You trust that she won’t reveal anything to her colleagues when she announces her resignation?” “I do.” Nick pledged. “She remembers the Enforcers.” “Perhaps I need to pay her a visit.” “Please, don’t. I don’t want you to scare her off.” “I never said she would know I was there,” LaCroix sniffed. “I am merely ensuring that any damage done by careless conversation is undone.” “I’ve already done that once,” Nick sighed. “She didn’t like it.” “Very well,” he nodded. “I will give you both a week. You may continue to follow her. Make sure nothing she says or does will indicate that she intends anything other than a change to a less strenuous job. ***** “I said not to pressure me,” Natalie said in a low, angry voice. She’d sensed that she was being followed and wasn’t surprised to see Nick standing by her car. “It was either me, or LaCroix,” Nick replied. “I wasn’t trying to pressure you. I haven’t sent you anything for four days.” “I know. I’m beginning to miss the little treats,” she said sheepishly. “Why the surveillance?” “The offer has been made,” his voice was low, intense. “We don’t normally give people time to reconsider. It is only because of the things you’ve done for the Community in the past that we have so much leeway with you. LaCroix wanted to ensure that whatever you did to sever ties here would not betray us.” “It won’t,” she said quickly. “I won’t undo the post-hypnotic suggestions you gave Grace. We’re going to dinner tomorrow and I’ll break the news to her that I don’t feel physically capable of remaining in the coroner’s office.” “Then you are going to take the offer?” “Yes,” she nodded. “I’ll turn in my notice Friday and will come to the address Saturday evening.” “You won’t regret it, Nat. I promise.” “You did. I won’t lie, Nick. Being with you for eternity is a temptation, but it isn’t the only reason that I’m doing this.” “It would flatter my male ego to think that I was enough to sway your decision but that isn’t how you think.” She smiled and opened the car door. “I’m glad we understand one another.” ***** “She said she’d be here Saturday night,” Nick said nervously. They had prepared the living room with a profusion of candles, the flickering tapers casting light and shadows around the room. “I cannot tell if you are an expectant father or nervous bridegroom,” LaCroix chuckled. “If you pace any further, you will wear a hole in the rug. I’ll have you know it is an antique that I obtained in India two hundred years ago. I would not appreciate you damaging it more in one night than I’ve done in two centuries.” “Sorry,” he said sheepishly. “Are you sure we have enough supplies?” “Nicholas, I have done this far more often than you. I know what is necessary to successfully transition one mortal woman.” “I’m glad to hear it,” Natalie spoke from the doorway. “I knocked, but you two were too busy arguing.” Both men turned and saw her standing just inside the door. She leaned heavily on the cane as she surveyed the entry way, looking beyond to the candlelit room. “Welcome, Ms. Lambert,” LaCroix intoned, strolling to the doorway to take her arm. “Unless you want it to complete the look, you won’t need that.” He gestured to the cane that she still held tightly in her right hand. “I’m not sure it really goes with this look,” she commented, loosening her grip slightly. She’d never known LaCroix to wear anything but black, and Nick had more black clothes than any man she’d ever seen so she’d matched the color scheme. She had shopped that morning for something appropriate to wear for something that she considered to be a fairly formal occasion. “Speaking of which, you are looking very elegant.” Nick commented. Her black silk pantsuit was accented with silver and black beading on the collar and cuffs. She would have loved to pair it with strappy heels but her balance didn’t allow her that luxury. Yet. “You didn’t tell me the dress code for this event, so I guessed. It is an event, is it not?” “It is,” LaCroix confirmed. They had reached the center of the living room and stood next to the leather couch. “I celebrate the occasion where I renew my son’s pledge of loyalty and join with my newest daughter.” He stepped back, and met her gaze with an intense stare. “I give you a gift that is unparalleled. A power beyond your imagination. The time to do whatever you desire without fear of death or disease. All I ask is your commitment of loyalty.” He waited for a moment, seeing her glance over to Nick. “The bond that we will share transcends distance. I pledge myself to you as your eternal teacher.” “OK,” she said softly. “What do you want me to say?” “Do you accept me as your guide, your teacher?” “My master,” she added. “I’ve know the term.” “Do you really? And what do you know of it?” “That you would be like a father, or a brother. You will do anything to protect me.” She left off some of the less flattering ways that Nick had described his sire but they both understood where the phrasing had come from. “Very good, Ms. Lambert, very good. Of your own free will, do you consent to have me bring you across?” “Yes,” she said simply. Nick stepped forward to take her cane, while LaCroix swept her hair to the side. She turned her face slightly and gasped with the sudden sharp pain of the fangs. It was not as erotic as Nick had been and he sensed her discomfort. While his sire carefully drew Natalie’s mortal blood from her body, Nick held her in his arms. Together, they eased her to the couch as she lost consciousness. He felt her body cooling and her heart slowing while he held her head in his lap. “You have been at this point before Natalie. You came back for us enough to survive until we were ready for the next step.” LaCroix sat on the ottoman next to her prone body. He held a hand up to Nick to silence him. “It is time for you to join us fully.” He held a bleeding wrist over her mouth. “Drink of me fully, Natalie. Take what you need. Join us forever.” He sighed with delight as he felt her lips tighten over the bleeding wound. Sensing that she’d taken enough to make the transition, he pulled away. “She won’t waken for several hours, mon fils. You have a question for me?” “You gave her your blood before?” “I gave her a few drops and called her back.” “You risked making her a hunter?” Nick asked with horror. “You had drained her beyond that point, and I didn’t give her enough to do that.” He sighed, taking a bottle out of the case that sat at the end of the couch, ready to satisfy Natalie’s first hunger. “I believe I know more about this than you. A few drops is all it took to keep her heart beating until I could get her to the hospital.” “Will she remember being at the doorway twice?” “She will now. If you are not comfortable discussing it with her, I will. After all, it was my decision. You had already made your choice.” “We’ve discussed that much. She knows I asked you to stake me.” “Good. I have no illusions mon fils. I know we’ve had our differences. Having Ms. Lambert in our midst won’t change that.” “Can’t you call me Natalie?” a low, soft voice interrupted them. “Of course, Natalie, if that is what you desire,” LaCroix responded, placing the bottle in her hand. “Drink, ma fille. Ease your hunger.” He continued to murmur to her in French while she finished the bottle and two more. She pushed the fourth bottle away and pulled herself up until she was sitting next to Nick, facing LaCroix. Her smile broadened as looked between the two me, shaking her left arm. “It works. Fred moves for me now.” “I told you it would, Nat,” Nick replied. He didn’t understand her uncontrollable excitement. Even diminished by the distance of their link, he felt it. “I know you did but I was afraid to believe you,” she grinned, leaning over to kiss LaCroix on the cheek. “Thank you. Oh, you have no idea what this is like.” “You are welcome, Natalie. What you’ve experienced so far is a mere taste of what awaits. I look forward to sharing my life knowledge with you.” He stood and held his hand out to her. “This is a beginning, thank you for not making it an end two years ago,” with her words she acknowledged to both men that she knew what had happened that cold night. “Yes, it is a beginning,” Nick agreed, standing on the other side. “What is done, is done. Tonight I start new with you.” ====fin==== author’s note: This is a story that I started writing in July 2000, after my father suffered a stroke. Putting pen to paper was therapy for me, as I watched his recovery, and struggles to relearn basic activities. I’m giving Natalie the healing that I wish I could give to stroke patients everywhere, who are not able to miraculously throw away their canes….