This was written in the summer of 1993 and was published in slightly altered form in Night Beat #2 Forever Knight fanzine. It's a Nick and Nat early romance story with a R-rating. Hope you like it.

A Red, Red Rain Is Falling Down
by Vickey Brickle-Macky

Part 1

         Dr. Natalie Lambert came into the squad room to simply deliver a case file to Nick . She walked up to his desk where he was busily working. There was no response from him, though Schanke noticed, and just sat back and watched. She stood there a minute or two getting disgusted as the seconds ticked away and he hadn't looked up. Finally, she coughed to get his attention. He was so immersed in his work that he looked up very surprised to see her. He cocked an eyebrow, questioning why she was there.
         "It's the Harrison file that you wanted," she explained then smiled warmly down at him and handed him the file which he took. She moved forward a little to sit and perch on a corner of his desk, and crossed her shapely legs.
         "Thanks," he said. He tried not to notice her as a woman but it was hard not to when she was this close to him. In the back of his mind he was trying to put his finger on the oddness of her behavior, something was a little off but the wasn't sure what it was exactly. He studied her for a moment. Was it his imagination or was Nat's deep teal dress a little more slinkier and a little more tighter and clingier than normal and her perfume maybe a tad more exotic smelling? If he didn't know better he would think she was trying to seduce him or come on to him. He dismissed those thoughts quickly as that didn't fit with his image of Nat as a buddy and a friend.
         He focused his attention on what she was saying or tried to. "It was murder, not accidental as the guy's friend said. The angle of the entry wound disproves his story as well as the physical positioning of the body at the crime scene," she relayed her findings all very professionally, but she was nervous and chewing on her lip --a dead give away that something was up.
         "We'll go back and question the friend and the family.," he replied also very professionally.
         "Anything else on your mind, Nat?" he asked, noting the rise in tension, which was in turn making him very nervous.
         "No, nothing . . . , just wondering what you were going be doing this weekend."
         "I hadn't thought about it. Catch up on some sleep, maybe rent some videos, just lay back--that kind of thing. Why?" he asked, leaning back in his swivel chair and locking his arms behind his head as he waited for her to go on.
         She was really nervous now as she took a big breath and dunked her head before speaking, her loose hair falling forward like a curtain. "I know you don't get out much, but I've got this friend that's got a cabin out on Big Shores Lake, . . . I thought maybe you'd like to get away, do some fishing, see some nature, etc. ?" she asked hopefully.
         "Me?" he questioned, rather floored. "Nat, you know I don't do outdoors."
         She came right back nonplused. "You need to. A little fresh air would do you a world of good. . . and I'd like the company. I hate going there alone, but if you can't . . . I'll understand," she said a little sadly making him feel guilty which was her intent as she peeked over at him from under the heavy screen of her hair.
         He could tell she was sincere, that much was obvious, but him--outside and the possible risks? Then the two of them alone? He'd have to do some thinking about this. "Let me think about it after you've told me more about this place, deal?" he asked, surprising her by not automatically saying no.
         Her head came back up and she was smiling. "Deal. I'll stop by after work and tell you more about it, okay?"
         "Okay," he agreed.
         "Great! See you after work," she said bouncing up off his desk and straightened out her skirt before she walked away with a lot of swinging and swaying to her hips that definitely got Nick's attention but he damped down his rising interest quickly on all levels.
         When she had gotten out of earshot range Schanke put down the file he had been supposedly reading and regarded his puzzled partner. "You really ought to do something about that, Knight."
         "About what, Schanke?" he asked unsure what he was getting at.
         "Jeez, you must be dead, Knight. I'm talking about our lady doctor--what did you think? That gal has a four alarm fire going for you and is looking for you to put it out. You mean you can't tell?" Schanke asked seriously as he raised a hairy eyebrow at him as he leaned forward intently across his paper covered desk.
         "Yeah, . . . I've noticed, but . . . ."
         "No buts, Knight. Your nobility is touching but the tension between you two is so thick that you could cut it with a knife. Take the woman up on her offer. You could use some sun and fun, even the Captain would agree with that. Wouldn't you Captain?" Schanke asked getting Stonetree's attention as he came up behind Nick with papers in his hand.
         "Wouldn't I what, Schanke?" Stonetree questioned suspiciously, frowning.
         "That Nick needs to go spend some time in the sun. Dr. Lambert offered him a weekend up at Big Shores Lake and he has to think about it--I know if I got offer an weekend like that I wouldn't say no," he pushed.
         "I think that's kind of up to Nick what he wants to do," he said and Nick smiled in triumph at Schanke. Then Stonetree went on, "but he has been looking rather peaked lately. A weekend outdoors might do you some good, Nick," he added patting Nick's shoulder. Schanke just beamed.
         Nick knew when he was beat and glared at both of them "Thanks, Capt'n," Nick said. "You got something for us?" he asked getting back to business.
         "Yeah, got another nasty down at Fourteenth and Westside. A transient found a body of a woman with her throat slashed. This may or may not be related to the latest series of hooker murders. Check it out. The medical examiner is already on its way."
         They nodded. "Got it, Capt'n," Schanke replied for both of them. Within seconds they were up out of their chairs and putting on their jackets. Then they started heading for the door and out to Nick's car in the parking lot of the station.
         A half hour later they were at the scene of the murder. Already the area was cardoned off with barricades and yellow police tape. The uniforms were there to keep the curious out while they along with the medical examiner and the forensic technicians were there to figure out what had happened in the alley. They parked their car and got out taking in the scene as they came closer. In the distance Nick could make out Nat bent over the body doing a preliminary exam while the ambulance guys stood nearby with a gurney to remove the body. The photographer was already at work taking pictures of everything.
         Nick and Schanke passed by the uniforms questioning the guy that had found the body. The poor transient was looking around like he wished he never had stumbled upon it. He was shaking visibly under the intense questioning the uniforms were giving him. The old man looked up from under his tattered hat covering his tangled gray mop of dirty hair and just glared with red-rimmed eyes at the officers. "I tell ya, I dunno nothin' more than I told youse. I just found the body when I was tryin' to find a place to sleep. She was just layin' there looking like she was just asleep until I got closer and saw all the blood. And that's when I started screamin' and someone heard me and called you guys," he told them, wishing they would leave him alone and let him go.
         Schanke pulled one of the cops over. "Getting anywhere?"
         The young clean scrubbed patrolman shook his head. "Nope. He's sticking to the same story of stumbling over the body when he was looking for a place to sleep. Said he's never seen her before around here. And there's no ID on the body. It's already been checked. The victim looks to be in her late teens, early twenties. Not bad looking, well dressed, not punk, or your usual hooker type clothes," the cop told him, and was rewarded with a hard questioning stare from Nick.
         "Hooker clothes?"
         The guy flushed red. "You know . . . sleazy, . . low cut, short,. . . tight. This looks like someone's wife or girlfriend just out shopping and got napped. Too clean to be from around here," he embarrassedly explained.
         "We got the picture," Schanke said letting him off the hook. "Any witnesses besides the old guy. Did any of neighbors see or hear anything?"
         "We're still checking, sir. So far nothing."
         "What's your name officer so I can put it in my report?" Schanke asked taking out his notebook and scribbling down some the information they had just gotten.
         "Peters, sir. Patrolman Hank Peters. This is my first murder scene. I went to a few during basic but actually doing it--it gives me the creeps.," he confessed nervously.
         "Get used to it. It gets worse," Nick told him, and then turned to Schanke. "I'm going to wander over and see what Nat's come up with. See what you can get out of the old guy," he told Schanke and then left to see the body.
         He walked down the brick walled alley looking for clues. There was just the usual trash and debris from life in the city. Most of the techs had left, and the ambulance guys were putting the body bag into the ambulance. Nat was the only one still there. She crouched down with a penlight studying the ground where the victim had been and was shaking her head. She had changed into sweats he noticed as dresses did tend to be impractical for poking around a crime scene.
         "Problem?" he asked coming up.
         She glanced up and acknowledged his presence. "Look at this and tell me what you think," she asked.
         "What am I supposed to be looking at?"
         "The pattern of the stains. There's not enough blood. She wasn't murdered here. She was dumped here after being murdered elsewhere shortly before. It would have to be close by though because there was still enough blood to leave a sizable pool under her but not enough to be the actual murder site," she explained flashing her light around the area looking for any trails of blood. She straightened up and he followed using his own enhanced senses to see if there was anything she was missing.
         "Nothing," he reported. "But you're sure on this?"
         "Fairly sure. I'll know more later after the autopsy. But what bugs me is that the whole area is too clean. The ground is soft and leaves prints, yet there weren't any. I had the techs go over everything carefully. She also doesn't appear to be molested in any way. It looks like she fell asleep and never woke up as there was no indication that she struggled with her attacker. Robbery might be a motive because there's no purse, no ID. We'll run prints first thing and hope she shows up somewhere or gets reported as a missing person. Wish I could give you more," she apologized as she took off her rubber gloves and dropped them in her bag.
         "Some cases are like this, a lot of little unanswered somethings that eventually do add up to a big something," he told her. "Nat, about earlier. You took me by surprise. I'll give the lake a shot if you can promise me that it'll be safe. I'm not exactly sun proof yet."
         "Nick, I wouldn't have asked you if I didn't think it would be. I've been up there before. The windows have heavy shutters, and there's a big shaded porch. The whole place is surrounded by trees and heavy underbrush. It's positively primeval. The deer walk up to the door. It is also very private, and the nearest house is ten miles down the road."
         "And what are we supposed to do with all this privacy?" he questioned.
         She blushed again. "Fish, we can swim--it's still warm enough to even at night. There's an entertainment center with a TV and VCR so we can bring those movies you were talking about watching. We can talk or do nothing at all. The idea is to rest and relax away from it all."
         "You didn't mention the sleeping arrangements," he asked point blank, keeping his expression neutral.
         That threw her off. "Ohh, . . . there's three bedrooms. . . . You will be perfectly safe with me. I don't bite," she said looking up to meet his eyes. There was a glimmer of amusement there.
         "But I do," he pointedly reminded her. "Are you sure you want to do this? Alone with me for an entire weekend--no escape?"
         "Yes . . . , I'm sure," and even to her ears she sounded doubtful.
         He saw that she really wanted to do this and she had answered most of his objections. He couldn't say no or disappoint her. She asked so little of him these days. With an inward sigh, hoping he wasn't making a big mistake, he asked: "When do you want to leave?"
         She brightened, looking up at him in relief and triumph in her hazel eyes. "Friday night. We're both off then. Pack for bumming around, and bring a swim suit, I am. I'll bring, towels and goodies."
         "Goodies?"
         "Food, drinks, snacks, etc."
         "But Nat . . ."
         "I know you don't eat that much yet. Indulge me on this, okay?" she grinned and he wondered what she was up to. Before he could ask she looked behind him and warned: "Schanke is coming."
         Schanke looked at the two of them and sized up the situation. "Got it all worked out?"
         "Got what worked out, Schank?" Nat questioned, frowning at him.
         "Your big weekend up at the lake," he replied knowingly as he chewed on a toothpick and grinning.
         "Maybe, not that's it's any of your business," Nat tactfully retorted.
         "Just looking out for my partner."
         "Who can take care of himself," Nick pointed out. "Besides there is nothing going on between Nat and me. Just friends hanging out together, right Nat?" looking to her to back him on this.
         "Right, Nick," she agreed enthusiastically. "Now, if you gentlemen don't mind I've got bodies to dissect and you've got paperwork?" she hinted. "Got to go, see you later, " she added as she scooted around Schanke and walked briskly to her car.
         Schanke watched her go, with a smirk on his face. "Yeph, clear case of guilty conscience. That lady's going to have the bear traps out, bet on it," he remarked with absolute surety.
         "Nat's not like that."
         "How easily the mighty fall."
         "Huh??' Nick asked confused.
         "Women. You sure don't know women. Never saw such a easy mark as you are," Schanke told him with a straight face.
         Nick started to say something but thought better of it. He didn't want to spoil Schanke's illusions. But he did decide to play along and act innocent. "How so?" he asked interested, as they headed back to the car.
         "I've watched you, Knight. Women walk all over you. Even that hot number at the Raven, what's her name--Janette. I see lots of sizzle with you and women but nothing ever happens. It only goes so far then you fizzle out. That Janette is a lot of action but she's not the settling down type, or the other hand . . . ."
         "You think Nat is?" Nick questioned with a laugh as he opened the car doors and let them both in, then he got in behind the wheel.
         Schanke got in on the passenger side never missing a beat as he went on. "Yeah, deep inside she is. Except she's too damn scared to--just like you. Never saw two people who were so damn scared. It's be laughable if it weren't so pathetic."
         Nick tried to ignore the last comment as he started the car and they headed for the station. "Did you ever think that there might be reasons why Nat and I don't get together?"
         "Yeah, but I can't see any."
         "Well, there are, and just leave it at that. Nat knows what they are and that's what matters."
         "If there's something I can help you with?"
         "This you can't. I appreciate the offer of help but this really something you can't help me with," he said truthfully and mentally he added, no one can.
                  "Too bad," Schanke tsked having enough sense to leave it alone but that didn't stop him from trying to figure out what the problem was. For the moment though he decided to switch gears and focus on their current case. "Did Nat come up with anything? I noticed her grubbing around on the ground." He inquired.
         Nick shook his head. "Yes and no. She didn't think there was enough blood at the site to be where the murder took place. In her opinion she thinks the body was dropped there but not too long after being killed. She's going to try to ID it, but that'll take awhile. Get anything more out of the old guy?"
         "Nope, nadda. I felt sorry for the guy and gave him a couple of bucks and let him go. He told us if we need him he hangs out at the mission over on Forest. He goes by the name Sunny Joe. I've seen him around before. He's one of the neighborhood regulars. The whole thing has got him all shook up and said he ask around on the street and see if anyone else knows anything."
         "Good. Some of the street people are real decent and want to help when they can. Basically, most of them just want to be left alone," he commented, but mentally he was reviewing their outstanding case files and knew that Schanke had wanted to go talk to some witnesses on another case. "Did you want to check out those leads on the Oslen case while we're still out?" Nick asked.
         "Sure, why not," Schanke agreed. "Let's go."
         And Nick headed the car to the address Schanke gave him and they went to go interview their witnesses.

Part 2

         Nick got home just shortly before dawn early Friday morning. The sky was rosy pink and brightening considerably as he pulled his car into the garage and parked it. He noted Nat's car parked out in the alley and it was empty as he drove in. That meant that she was inside waiting on him. He wasn't sure whether this was a good thing or a bad thing as he took the elevator up to his apartment.
         He slid open the door she was sitting on his couch watching one of the local morning news shows while she sipped a cup of coffee and took a bite out of a donut. There was a big white paper bakery bag beside her as she curled on the couch. He could smell fresh brewed coffee as he walked through the kitchen which meant she had been there at least a half hour.
         He had gotten the coffee maker for her since she was a frequent visitor and he made sure he kept coffee and other snacks for when she or Schanke dropped in. Some of it was self defense of Schanke's cracks about his empty larder and the other was he was beginning to eat off and on and hated running to a fast food place to get something to fill him up. He was drinking less and less of the cow's blood as time went by. In fact he was down to two bottles a week or less and then very little at a time, because it was beginning to make him sick of his stomach. He drank the blood mainly now when he was feeling real stressed out. Right now almost qualified but he resisted the impulse as he had picked up an Egg McMuffin on the way home and was filling full. As he came in she set the food door and picked up his remote control for his blinds and lowered them blocking out the sunlight starting to pour into the room.
         "Running a little late, aren't we?" she commented.
          "Got held up by the Captain. Had to really push it. Still made it back with seconds to spare," he defended. "So what's up?" he inquired coming over and sitting down.
         "Remember I said I'd be over?
         "Yeah, but we talked last night. I thought we had everything pretty much settled?" he raised an inquiring eyebrow as he regarded her. She had changed back to the slinky teal blue dress and had kicked off her shoes. They lay in a heap on the floor.
         "I feel like I backed you into a corner. I wanted to give you a chance to bail out if you wanted."
         "Who said I wanted to be bailed out," he replied surprising her. "It's been awhile since I have gotten out of the city just for fun. And it may surprise you I do know how to fish and I do like being outdoors. I live in town out of necessity not by choice."
         "Yeah, I have a hard time picturing a vampire out in the country. It's kind of a city thing."
         He grinned. "Yes and no. In the old days it was mainly country with very little city to speak of. I have fond memories of several chateaux and castles in the middle of nothing."
         "That must have been boring," she said taking another couple sips of coffee as she settled on the couch more comfortably and straightened her skirt.
         Nick thought about it and shrugged. "No, not really. I had my books, and my paints. I tended to want to settle in a place while LaCroix and Janette wanted to keep moving. They liked the city, going to court--I didn't."
         "They were around a lot I take it?"
         "Yes. I wanted to be on my own but LaCroix insisted we stay together and we did for many long centuries until I finally started breaking free. Then I would try to blend into world usually as an eccentric noble. Having money quieted a lot of wagging tongues and gave me some measure of privacy during the days."
         She shook her head. "I still have a hard time trying to imagine your life, what it's like to have seen and done all the things you've done, all the people, the places. You're a walking history book," she commented.
         "Maybe, but I try not to dwell on the past. There's too many memories, things that haunt me still that I'd rather forget. I try to live in the now, and even that is not easy. So is there anything else you wanted to talk about?" he asked as he switched gears on her.
         "Yeah, . . . I wanted to make something clear so there would be no misunderstandings," she said trying to find the right words. He looked at her questioningly to go on. "About the sleeping arrangements and all . . . I just wanted you to know that I wasn't trying to set up some sort of romantic whatever. I mean you . . . me, we've got enough problems, and I remember Alyce. . . . That's what I meant when I said you'd be perfectly safe with me. I mean we're just buddies, pals, right?" she questioned nervously looking at him.
         He caught the momentarily flicker that said I wish we weren't, but he let it pass and answered her quickly. "Right, just buddies," he agreed and she looked relieved but there was a pang of disappointment in there too. He understood that. He regretted he could never have a real relationship with anyone. His friendship with Nat was the closest thing that he had had to having one and that they both kept very carefully platonic because of the risks involved. Though he really wished at times that it could be different because there had been many times during the three years they had known one another that he had wanted to do more than just admire her from a far.
         She had gotten closer to him than he had allowed any being mortal or vampire to get. She was learning his innermost secrets, his fears, his wants, his needs--well almost all his needs. How he really felt about her he kept carefully to himself--he hoped. LaCroix had told him once he only had three choices in dealing with a mortal woman : he could admire her from afar; love her like a mortal--which was impossible because of danger of the vamp rising in the heat of passion: or consume the relationship and kill her with the possibility of bringing her over. The only viable option in his relationship with Nat was to admire her from afar and hope that a cure could be found to turn him mortal so he would be safe to love her or anyone.
         "Good, I was afraid . . . being this close. . . and alone together might be a problem for you," she said carefully.
         "For me?" he questioned, amused, sitting back with his arms folded, cocking an eyebrow at her. "It isn't a problem for--me."
         "Okay," she sounded doubtful, then she reached down and put her shoes on, then got up quickly. "I need to get home, get packed, see if my neighbor can watch Sidney over the weekend and try to get some shut eye."
         He tried to figure out the sudden change of mood in her and failed. Maybe he wasn't that good at reading women as Schanke had suggested but he sure couldn't figure out what was going through Nat's head. But then again he rarely could. Her mercurial changes of mood always threw him--she was definitely unlike any female he had ever known. He decided to follow her lead. "Yeah, we're both tired. Schanke and I were running all over town last night trying to tie up loose ends on some of our outstandings. You go get some rest and come back here later. Are we going to take mine or yours?"
         "Is yours up to a road trip?" she asked seriously.
         "Yeah."
         "Then we'll take yours. Mine is fine in the city but yours is more comfortable," she added.
         "Got you hooked too." he smiled, then saw her confusion. "You begin to why I drive the Caddie rather than a new sporty model. It isn't for the gas mileage its for the ride and the trunk space."
         "Okay, okay, I admit it, I like your car. What time do you want to leave out? Six? Seven?"
         Six, I guess. I wish we could leave earlier . . . ." He left the rest of it unspoken. The sun was a barrier he could not cross--yet. He was getting closer but he was not close enough to let the sun touch him without harm.
         "I know--maybe one day. You're getting a lot closer than when we started. You're eating off and on. You can get hurt. The last time we checked your pulse was up to three beats a minute, and your temperature was up to eighty-six degrees. Those are a lot of big milestones, Nick. You ought to be happy," she said looking up at him.
         "I am--it's just taking longer than I thought it would."
         "Well. considering we're doing this from scratch, I think it's pretty amazing that we've gotten this far."
         He agreed grudgingly. "Yes, I know, but I'm impatient. I want a normal life more than you can possibly know. I envy you being able to come and go as you want, being able to feel things I can't," he sighed then crossed over to the fireplace.
         "I won't debate you as to what you feel or don't. I do know you have feelings, very strong ones even if you don't acknowledge them for what they are," Nat replied watching him, feeling her heart getting tugged at again by his sadness. "Then there's a lot of things about yourself you don't acknowledge. And before it gets too deep in here, I'm going to go. I'll see you later, okay?" she told him, turning to go.
         "Nat, I promise to cheer up by tonight. No more gloom and doom. It's just a lot of little things and being tired," he apologized. The gray eyes looked remorseful for being such a problem at times to her. Good home, and I'll see you later." He waved her on to go, and she nodded and did finally leave.
         He stood there leaning on the mantle of the fireplace his finger idly tracing the lines of the carvings on it feeling very much alone as he always did. The daylight hours were always the worst for him because being trapped inside. Would he ever not be trapped, he wondered? Nat sounded so hopeful with his progress. Maybe he should be as well.
         On impulse he went over to where Nat had dropped the remote for the blinds and pressed the button to open. He raised it about six inches and a shaft of pure golden light spilled down on his hardwood floor bathing it in dancing dust devils created by the light. Experimentally he crossed to the light and stuck a finger in its radiance ready to withdraw it at the slightest tinge of pain or hint of smoking. The last time he had tried this had been over a year ago, he had not been brave enough to try since. He waited and nothing happened. He held it fully in the beam of light for five minutes and nothing. He extended his whole hand and waited and got the same results. He moved his legs and feet into the light. The only thing he felt was the normal warmth of the sun on his body and clothes. He touched the controls and edged the blinds up higher until at last he was bathing fully in the bright morning summer sun. His face was as radiant as the sun he was bathing in, beaming from ear to ear with a joyous smile.
         He ripped his shirt open, the buttons flew wildly across the room bouncing all over with a clatter. He didn't care as he stripped his shirt off and threw it. With a thud it hit the wall then fell in a dark tumbled heap on the floor. He was bare to the waist in the sun--he couldn't believe it!
         Almost eight hundred years he had waited for the moment. Eight hundred years of hiding and darkness--now it was over! He whooped loudly in pure joy, dancing, turning, throwing his arms wide as he offered his whole body in benediction to this wonder of wonders.
         Nick collapsed finally on the floor cross legged in a square of sunlight unwilling to move away but knowing too he shouldn't overdo it. He looked at his watch. He had been exposed to the sun for a full half hour and nothing serious had happened though he was getting hot and sweating. Reluctantly he rose and found the remote and closed the blinds. He picked up his shirt from the floor and went upstairs to take a shower and to check himself for damage.
         Stripping completely he padded on bare feet to the bathroom and turned the water on. That was another thing he could appreciate now, the feel of water on his body. He washed and rinsed, then toweled off before daring to check himself in the full length mirror on the door. Under the bright bathroom lights he checked himself critically, using the mirror on the wall above the sink to check the places he couldn't see. He was a little pink but not noticeably so. he had been redder getting out of the shower, nor was his skin tender, burning or hurting.
         Rummaging through his medicine chest he found the thermometer Nat had gotten for him. It took it out and shook it down and stuck it under his tongue. He went into his bedroom and got his watch and began timing it. It kept it there two minutes and took it out and looked at it. Ninety-three-point-one. Still under but higher and closer to human normal than he had been. He checked his pulse it was up to fifty-five beats a minute.
         When had all this happened, he wondered? Now it seemed like overnight as neither he or Nat had noticed. But then she hadn't checked him over in close to three months. Too many cases, not enough time, and a growing sense of embarrassment. Somewhere along the line they had stopped being patient and doctor. She couldn't look at him as dispassionately as she had, nor could she touch him either in a clinical way, he suspected. The changes between them in their relationship had occurred as gradually as had occurred in his body. All these changes had gone unnoticed by both.
         He lay back on his bed with his hands laced behind his head to think and to take in what this all meant, could mean to his life and the way he was living. He was almost mortal, just a step or two from fully realizing his dream. He wanted to shout it from the roof tops this indescribable joy he felt, but he doubted if anyone but Natalie would understand. Janette might, but his changing frightened her. They had not seen or talked to one another in a while nor did he think he should see her now.
         His dream had been just that a dream. He had never really expected it to come true. So he really wasn't prepared for it. There had been no plans made. He had no ideas of what he really wanted to do, could do with a normal mortal life. Seven hundred and sixty-five years ago he had had a very good idea of what he wanted to do with his life--now he was a total loss. He had only expected to stay here no more than another five or possibly ten years and then move on as he always did before people got suspicious. This time he was finding himself wanting to put down roots badly. He was making friends, real friends. He hadn't allowed that before. He had been friendly but not been a friend. He had been afraid of the emotional investment involved on both sides. What had changed? The inclusion of Natalie as well as Schanke, Stonetree and others into his lonely life and the fact that his job, as a cop, brought him into higher contact with people than he had ever had before.
         Was it because he was tired of running, of hiding, of living a lie? What impulse had prompted him to intercept that pipe bomb so that he ended up on Nat's examination table about to be autopsied? Was it fate, or the hand of a higher power that had guided his steps, made him come to Toronto when he could have gone anywhere in the world? He had wondered about that as he had about his first meeting with Nat. Normally, he would have blanked her memory of him or killed her, he had done neither instead he had confessed who and what he was and despite her initial disbelief she had accepted him and had offered to help him find a cure, a way back. In her he had the first real confidant and friend he had had in ages. He had been afraid to look beyond that because of what he was.
         Now there were possibilities and hopes where they hadn't really been any. The vampire was almost gone but was he safe? Could he make love to a moral and not vamp out? This was unknown territory he was venturing into. No vampire had ever crossed back, no one had wanted to as much as he had had.
         He wanted to call Nat and tell her what had happened but he decided not to--yet. He smiled, he wanted to see her face, her reactions to the new man he was. Over the phone just wouldn't cut it. He'd wait until they were at the cabin and an appropriate moment to bring it up. This weekend was going to prove more interesting than either had dared thought of. With that in mind he crawled under the covers and went to sleep after he set his alarm for five to get up.
         Across town Nat was packing for the weekend after leaving Nick's apartment and going to the grocery store to get food. She had bought mainly quick and easy with heavy emphasis on protein rich foods. There were steaks and pork chops, along with some fresh veggies, plus assorted snack foods and drinks. At least he was eating now. Not as much as what she'd like, but some. She reminded herself to check him over soon. They really hadn't compared notes in awhile as to his progress. She hadn't asked and he hadn't volunteered. Some doctor she was, she thought to herself. Haven't even been checking on my patient to see how he was doing.
         Clothes wise she had packed jeans, shorts, t-shirts, a sweatshirt, a jacket, a couple of swimsuits, and modest night wear. The only exception was the black teddy which she threw in but didn't expect to wear. She didn't have the nerve.
         Wearing the teal dress had taken a lot of guts on her part and she still couldn't tell if he had even noticed. Though most of the squad room had, and she had been grateful that the cat-calls had been kept down to a dull roar. Most of the station knew that she was interested in Nick and vice versa. She had even heard rumors of pool on them as to when they were going to get together. And sometimes even she thought it was a hopeless cause.
         Unfortunately, she wasn't interested in anyone else. Her experience with Roger had scared her to her very core. Now she was unwilling to even try to date. The only man she felt safe with was Nick, and even he made her skittish and not just because of the vampire. The vampire part of him was enough in itself to make her keep her distance after he had told her about his reactions to Alyce.
         She knew he hadn't tried to date anyone since that, at least anyone mortal. And his relationship with Janette still bothered her. She could admit to herself she was jealous and envied the beautiful, elegant vampire but she also knew he had known her for centuries. Their relationship was on kin with old friends, old lovers. She could never compete with that.
         She had had a very disastrous relationship before coming to work at the Medical Examiners office. He attraction to Nick had floored her. She hadn't expected it. On one level she was reacting to the incredible scientific curiosity he was and on another to the man he was both mentally and physically. His very maleness drew her like a magnet, and she wanted him and had from the beginning. Due to their professional and medical relationship she didn't dare let it show. His unexpected cuddling, and casual touching of her and on occasion affectionate brotherly kisses had taken her off guard. And he hadn't seemed to mind when she had punched him on occasion either. He was the only one the she was so familiar with. He teased her and she teased back. They hadn't gotten into a wrestling match--yet. Maybe because the both sensed what that could lead to.
         She sighed, and stopped her packing to sit on the edge of the bed. She wondered if they could have an innocent weekend together? Or was that what she really wanted. She knew she was starting to get cold feet and if she kept thinking this way she'd end up calling it off. And no, she didn't want to do that. It was best not to worry about it and let what happened happen. She looked at her watch it was going on eleven if she was going to get any rest she better do before much later or she wouldn't be able to get up by five.
         She let the rest of the packing go and got in bed and made herself go to sleep.

Part 3

         She was in an ancient looking forest. The huge oak and pine trees stretched high above her their leaves covering the blue sky like a lacy canopy through which the golden sun was shining through, sending down beams of light like spotlights to the forest floor. The air was warm and moist and she could smell the scent of the pines and the undertones of different wildflowers as well as the rich wet earth. It was peaceful but not quiet in the glade she found herself standing in. Around her she could hear the music of songbirds and the soft chatter of squirrels and other animals. There was an air of expectancy, of something wondrous about to happen. She walked forward feeling the springy moss underneath her bare feet and the cool ground. There in the center of the glade was a deep stream ringed with large rocks. In the middle of the stream, sitting on one of the rocks was a man, his back towards her. He was muscular and blonde but very pale. He did not seem aware of her presence.
         She walked closer, the moss muffling her footsteps. The surface of the water was alive with dancing lights and sparkling rainbows from the sun shining down. The man she realized was naked as he stood up suddenly then drove into the sparkling water. He swam in the water like a fish, seeming to enjoy himself. She still could not see his face so she drew closer still until she stood on the bank of the stream. She wanted to join him but was afraid to and was about to leave when he turned towards her and she saw him look at her. It was Nick. He smiled in welcome.
         "I wondered when you'd get here," he said swimming to her, the light playing on his body turning it a golden bronze under his muscles.
         "You knew I was coming?" she questioned, trying to tear her eyes from his.
         "Yes, didn't you?" he laughed.
         "No, where are we?"
         "What does it look like?"
         "A forest someplace. But this has to be a dream because you're swimming in the sunlight and you're not dissolving in a puff of smoke. And you're naked," she added, blushing.
         "If this is a dream why don't you join me?" he asked with an inviting smile. "The water is warm."
         "But I don't have a bathing suit," she protested looking down at her plain night gown.
         "Neither do I," he reminded her. "And this is only a dream. I promise not to look."
         "Maybe, but turn around," she requested and he did, and she slipped the gown off and it fell to the ground. Stepping across the flat rocks lining the shore she gingerly stepped into the crystal water and then when it was knee high she plunged in to submerge herself completely before coming back up. Nick was standing in the chest high water a little ways away from her watching. "I'm in," she announced. "Now what?"
         "You're braver than I thought. You're not afraid?"
         "Why should I be? I know you. There's nothing to be afraid of."
         "Isn't there?" he asked swimming now.
         "No. It's just you and me."
         "Precisely," he said coming up next to her and standing up. He reached his hand up and cupped her chin gently. There was sadness in his eyes and something else, desire, tinged with regret. "I want you, Natalie, but I can't have you," he announced softly.
         "Why not?" she asked, shivering under his touch.
         "You know why."
         "The vamp?" she asked, and he nodded in response She met his eyes boldly. "But this is a dream . . .and all things are possible in dreams."
         "Are they? Then what do you dream, Natalie? What dreams do you dare dream to come true?" he questioned, challenging her.
         She blushed again under his intense gaze. She lowered her eyes. "You, me, like this."
         "And?" he prompted, but she wouldn't answer she was afraid to. He forced her head up and her eyes grew wide as his head bent towards hers and he kissed her very deliberately on her slightly parted mouth. It was like fireworks going off in her head and body. Nat melted into his kiss, her arms going around his neck as he crushed her to him. He finally released her to let them both come up for air. "Was this what you had in mind?" he teased.
         She looked up him and nodded a little unsteadily. "Uhuh . . ," she managed to say.
         "I thought so. Was it so bad?"
         "No, . . . , " she breathed, gazing at him in wonder, becoming conscious of her arms still around his neck and her bare breasts pressed against his chest as well as other parts of their anatomy touching. She started to move away but his strong arms held her easily around her waist. She looked at him questioningly and he smiled devilishly.
         "I'm rather enjoying this, aren't you?" he inquired as one of his hands slid teasingly over her hip and shapely rounded bottom.
         "Maybe, . . . ," she replied feeling herself blush, "I should go," she said quickly trying to break away but he held her firmly.
         "Why? It's just starting to get interesting, and now you want to run. You don't have to. And . . . I don't want you to. . . and neither do you . . . really," he told her his gray eyes holding hers. "Do you?"
         She dunked her head, almost embarrassed to answer him. "No . . .," she whispered, wanting this but afraid to want this.
         "Natalie, I want you . . . I want to make love to you," he told her seriously.
         "But you're the one who told me not to get close to you, not to get false hopes up. It works both ways you know. I don't want to get hurt. I want to make love to you too but it will change everything between us," she argued logically.
         "Maybe it's time for a few changes. Look around us what do you see and feel?" he asked.
         She shrugged, trying to find anything out of the ordinary, different but she couldn't. "We're in a dream, outside in a forest somewhere in the sun, in the middle of a creek thoroughly wet and naked," she answered, wondering what he was getting at.
         "Right, we've got this far why can't we go further and live the dream all the way? A cartoon character once said 'this is only a fantasy so why not indulge yourself?' I think that's apropos here. And who knows maybe our dreams will mirror reality?"
         "I doubt it but I'm still afraid," she confessed.
         "I know, so am I am. Loving another person is always a risk, but I want to take it. I have taken it with you already," he said seriously, and she looked up startled. "I love you, Natalie."
         "You mean it?" her heart caught in her throat as she saw he was telling the truth, his eyes proclaimed his sincerity. "Nick . . . " she touched his cheek. "I . . . love you . . . too," she wept in joy as he kissed her this time with all the passion and love he had been holding back. Then before she realized it he swept her up in his arms and carried her to the moss covered bank of the stream and laid her carefully down then joined her.
         They made love in the bright sunlight no longer afraid to love one another and loving him and being loved by him was beyond anything she could have imagined. She couldn't get enough of him or he of her. Like two children they played and loved, discovering one another on and on until the lengthening shadows proclaimed it was nearing dusk. Out of nowhere the peace of the glade was broken by a god awful sound somewhere between an irritating buzzing droning and a siren and the glade, Nick, everything disappeared.

Part 4

         She awoke angrily, and lunged at the alarm clock finding the it she slapped the button down hard sending the alarm clock sliding across the top of the night stand to land jarringly on it's side. "Damn!!" she cussed out loud furious at being woke up from her dream. She laid back against her pillow staring up at the ceiling in frustration. Wishing in more ways than one that it hadn't been a dream and in a lot of ways glad it had been.
         She groaned loudly and pushed herself up out of bed. Sidney scurried out of her way and flew off the end of the bed heading for safer environments. She headed for the shower and soaked under the hot water until her skin was very pink. She dried off and used the hair drier to dry her wet mane of hair, then ran her brush through it's wild curly mass and tied it back before getting dressed. She threw on a black sweat suit, worn semi-tight jeans and her tennis shoes. Finishing her packing, she looked around to see if she was forgetting anything. Sidney. She looked for him and found him finally hiding under the couch. Holding him securely she loosed a hand to grab his sack of cat food and carried him and it across the hall to the neighbor who had volunteered to watch him while she was gone. Mission accomplished she collected her bags for the trip and left.
         She arrived promptly at six. It was still light out, almost sunset but not quite. Parking her car, she got her packages and bags out of the car and something made her glance upwards to Nick's apartment. The steel binds were open and she could see Nick standing by the window fully bathed in the light coming in. She almost dropped her packages in shock and fear. He saw her and quickly moved away and the blinds lowered. Was she hallucinating or had she actually seen what she just saw? She shook her head to clear it and looked up again. The blinds were fully shut now the light blasting helplessly against their dull metal surface. Shakily she punched in the keycode and went into the building, stopping long enough to drop off her packages at his car to be put in when they came back down.
         She was still milling through her head what she was going to say to Nick when he came down to meet her. "Hi," he said causally, the sheepish look on his face told her he had seen her looking and was waiting for her response.
         "Hi, she said back waiting for him to say something. The silence stretched between them, painful almost.
         "You're early," he finally said. She hadn't moved from beside the car and was looking at him with a little bit of fear.
         "I'm on time. I said six," she answered, her voice oddly flat.
         "I thought you said seven. It doesn't matter, just stop looking at me that way," he requested with a flourish of hands.
         "It's hard not to, Nick. Did I see what I saw or am I still dreaming?" she asked seriously leaning against the back fender of the green Caddie as she studied him under the solitary light of the garage glaring down harshly on him.
         "Still dreaming?" he questioned.
         "Never mind it's not important. I saw you standing by the window and you're still intact."
         "I appear to be," he smiled slightly.
         "How? How and when did this happen?"
         "I don't know. You're the doctor. . . . I noticed it this morning . . . after you left," he stammered embarrassed, like he always did when she was trying to pin him down. That penetrating stare of hers always made him nervous and it was doing a good job of it now. She wanted him to go on and he did. "I did it on impulse. . . I got to thinking of how disappointing a companion I was going to be and that it was unfair that we couldn't spend time in the sun like normal people. I opened the blinds and . . . nothing happened," he finished and waited for her reaction.
         She was still staring at him open mouthed like she hadn't heard him right. "Nothing happened?" she wanted verification before she dared breath or believe.
         "No, nothing happened. No burning, no smoking, no pain, no nothing. I stayed in it a half hour without any damage not even pink skin," he confessed.
         "And you didn't call me?" she asked warring between incredulous and starting to get mad.
         It was his turn to dunk his head in embarrassment. "I wanted to surprise you."
         "You managed to do that quite well. You about gave me a heart attack when I looked up and saw you there. And when were you going to tell me? Next week, next month, next year, when?" she demanded hurt and angry now, turning away from him and crossing her arms, hugging her body tightly terribly afraid that she was going to hit him.
         "Nat, I was going to tell you, honest," he tried to apologize, coming closer.
         "The biggest thing to happen to you and you don't tell me! I have to find out by accident? That hurts, Nick."
         "Well, you know now. I'm sorry I didn't call you but it's notthe kind of news Iwanted to tellyou over the phone. I wanted to show you and I guess I did. Are you going to stay mad at me?" he asked worriedly.
         She looked at him and finally uncrossed her arms and shook her head. "No . . . I'm sorry. I over reacted. It's wonderful, it really is. But I think we still ought to procede cautiously, test things out."
         "I agree. Can we countine this discussion upstairs so I can grab my stuff or have you changed your mind about our trip?" he asked.
         "No, I want to go now more than ever. You go on and get your things I'll wait here. I need to think about this," she told him seriously.
         Nick nodded and went upstairs alone. He understood that he had hit her with a big shock. He just hoped that she would be able to forgive him and get over it. Entering his apartment he went over to the couch and picked up his suitcase and jacket along with his own contributions to their weekend meals. Glancing around he mentally checked to see if he had forgotten anything and then went back downstairs to where Nat was waiting looking a little more calmer than before.
         "Is it safe?" he asked.
         "Yes," she smiled.
         He relaxed then crossed over to the car and opened the trunk. He put his gear in then put in hers and closed the trunk. He opened her side of the car and she got in then he did. "Ready?"
         "Ready," she smiled relaxing as he turned on the door opener then backed out of the garage. He closed it once they were outside and they took off into the sunset.

End of Part 4