Subject: NNPACK: "A New Knight" (01/01) Date: Sun, 28 Mar 1999 23:49:05 -0700 From: clark Reply-To: nnpackers@world.std.com To: fkfic-l@lists.psu.edu, nnpackers-digest@world.std.com This story follows an adult trilogy I've written, "A Night Like No Other," "There's Got To Be A Morning After" and "The Cold Light of Day." If you want to check out those stories, and you're of age, etc., to do so, they're on my website. (www.best.com/~sclark/fk) I think the story pretty much stands on its own. But, what follows is a short, pg-13 recap: Tracy, staying at the loft during a blizzard, accidentally disturbs Nick and Nat during some 'activities.' Embarassed, she later relates this to Vachon. Vachon, stunned, and lets it slip Nick's a vampire. Warned of Tracy's anger, Nick and Nat do the honorable thing; they run away. While on the road, and after a prank 'bust' by a friend of Tracy's, Nick proposes to Nat. And now, on with our saga... Permission given to archive at fkfanfic website and the FTP site. No other permission is granted to repost/reprint/reuse. If you're interested drop me a line. This story is based on characters and situations that aren't mine. Thanks to TPTB for their use. "A New Knight" by S. Clark Tracy started with the evil eye as soon as she saw Nick and Nat enter the station. They'd been away on emergency leave, or so they told their superiors. She knew better. "Well, it's my partner. The one who's always there for me, supporting me. Being honest with me." Nick looked to Nat, as if somehow she could save him. She just gave him a shrug. "Hi Tracy," he said, trying to sound as if there hadn't been anything odd about he and Nat being away for the previous three days. "So nice to see you back." Those may have been Tracy's words, but her attitude, her tone, told another story. "Hi, Tracy." Nat moved so she was standing between the two partners. She was looking as uncomfortable with the situation as they were. Tracy gave her partner one more look, and took a seat. "I told everyone no matter what excuse you'd given, that you'd run off to elope." Nick looked shocked, as Tracy expected. But then she heard Natalie start to giggle. Tracy's face grew red as she got angrier and angrier. "Oh sure, another laugh on good ol' Tracy's account." Natalie looked at Nick, who had the look of a vampire caught in the headlights. "I'm not laughing at you, Trace. It's just funny that you told people that." Tracy looked to Nat, and then to Nick. He gave a small shrug. Her eyes narrowed. "You didn't." Nat looked at Nick. "Did we?" He gave her a wink, then turned to Tracy. "We did." Tracy stood up. "No way!" She gave Nat a hug, the earlier animosity lost to the excitement of the news. "No way!" she repeated, giving Nick a hug, also. "But don't think you're totally off the hook," she whispered to him. "We will talk later." Nick gave Tracy a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks, Tracy." "Well, well, well." Reese's voice boomed through the squadroom as he approached. "What have we here. Our disappearing detective and his cohort coroner. Pretty suspicious the two of you taking off like that." Natalie started blushing and looked down towards the floor. She was shocked when Nick grabbed her hand and pulled her close, putting his arm over her shoulder. Nick gave Nat a wink. "Had to offer some grist for the gossip mill." "Well, you did that all right." Reese looked that the faces around him. Everyone in the station seemed to have stopped working. "Knight's back, show's over, let's not forget while we're here." Reese's proclamation caused everyone in the room to suddenly look away, and at least pretend to be busy. He scowled and walked over to the water cooler. Then, thinking better of pushing his luck, he just walked back into his office. Nat looked at her watch. "I'd better be getting to work, too." Tracy grabbed the opportunity. "I can give you a ride, Nat." She looked at Nick and Nat. "Well, I'm guessing you rode in together." Nat looked up at Nick. He planted a kiss on her temple. "See you later." She again blushed, unused to the public attention, and the stares they were again attracting. "Later." ### "You've got to tell me everything," Tracy said the moment they stepped out of the station. Nat knew when she accepted the ride she was in the for a grilling. "I refuse to tell you everything," she emphasized the last word. "But I'll tell you what I can." Tracy opened up the passenger door for Natalie. "Did you two really elope?" Natalie let out another laugh. "What's so funny." "Nothing. Other than the fact that yes, we really did get married." Not only had they gotten married, what caused Natalie to laugh was recalling the fact they'd gotten married four times. They had a certificate as Mr. and Mrs. Knight, Mr. and Mrs. Lambert, and Mr. and Mrs. de Brabant. Also, just in case, Mr. and Mrs. Peterson. Although Nick had never once said it was time to be moving on, he did say it was best if they were prepared. Plus, they both enjoyed going through the ceremony. Much more fun than getting forged papers from Aristotle. Nick would have preferred a church wedding. But, his condition being what it was, civil had to suffice. Tracy looked over at Natalie as they were stopped at a light. "And he's really a, you know..." "Yes, Tracy. He really is." "Wow. And he lied to me. And Vachon lied to me. And you had to have known." "Tracy. This was not just something we did on a whim. And the knowledge you have, about Nick's kind. It can be dangerous to a mortal." "That's what Vachon keeps telling me." Natalie nodded. She knew all too well the frustration of being kept at a distance. "He's doing it for your own good." Tracy let out a sigh of exasperation. "So he keeps saying. But you and Nick?" Nat licked her upper lick, trying to think of a way to explain things that wouldn't be too invasive. Not knowing exactly the state of Vachon and Tracy's relationship didn't help. "Nick and I, our relationship, is something that has taken a lot of effort on both of our parts." "But a relationship, full relationship, is possible?" "Yes, it is possible." Natalie took on a serious tone. "But it's not easy. Be careful." They drove in silence the rest of the way to the coroner's office. Nat hoped Tracy would heed her words of caution. If not, she hoped Vachon would properly restrain himself. She didn't envy him these days. Once at work, Natalie stepped out of the car and waved good-bye to Tracy. She stood out in the evening chill before heading inside. Once among her co-workers, she'd have a lot of explaining to do, not to mention a lot of work to catch up on. Postponing the inevitable, Natalie took a moment and let her thoughts drift over the previous few days. She and Nick. Experimenting, testing their limits. Getting married. Nat wrapped her arms around herself and smiled. Mrs. Natalie Knight. And at the end of shift, she'd be going home with Nick. To their home. It was the start of a new day. A new day, indeed.