From sclark@best.com Tue Jul 28 11:40:55 1998 Date: Sun, 12 Jul 1998 19:17:11 -0700 From: clark To: fkfanfic@merlin.darkmage.net Subject: Alone in the Night Permission given to archive at fkfanfic website as well as 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. Alone in the Night (01/02) by S. Clark Nick straightened the pencils in his desk drawer for what seemed like the thirtieth time this evening. "Give it a rest, will ya, Knight?" asked Schanke from across the desk. "You're starting to make me wish someone would die just to give you something to do." A recent slowdown in crime had given the homicide unit a break from their normal overworked caseload. While this was good for the people of Toronto it did lead to a certain amount of time doing the mundane work that needed to be done occasionally. But, as is said, familiarity breeds contempt. This saying was all too relevant to Nick Knight and his partner, Don Schanke. "I'm going to go get some lunch. Want anything?" Nick sat back in his chair and smiled. His thoughts turned to sunlight and flowers and one woman in particular. "I think I'll go to lunch, also." "You're actually going with me?" Schanke couldn't believe it. This from the partner he never saw eat? Nick grinned at his partner. "Nothing personal, Schanke. I've got a different dining partner in mind." He winked. "Don't wait up for me." Schanke laughed and shook his head. "Man oh man the single's life." Nick entered the morgue without knocking. He knew Natalie was there, he had heard her heart beating from down the hallway. He held a finger up to Grace as he passed her desk, motioning for quiet and was rewarded with a broad smile. Natalie was deep in thought, studying one of her forensics journals. A slowdown in crime meant a slowdown for her, also, and was allowing her to catch up on some much needed reading. She felt a tickle at her ear and reached up to brush it away. It went away momentarily but returned. She reached up to swat at whatever was fluttering around her ear and grabbed something. Natalie turned and looked and found herself staring at a big, yellow daisy. She followed the flower up to its bearer and saw Nick standing there, holding a big bouquet. Nick was greeted with a smile for his efforts. He enjoyed the way her smile lit up his entire world. "I thought you might have a chance to knock off for dinner." "Does this mean you're going to eat with me?" He grinned. "It means I'll enjoy your company." "It's a start." She took the flowers offered. "After I stick these in water." Nick pouted slightly. "I don't get a thank you?" She felt bold and leaned up, planting a light kiss on his lips. "That make it better?" she teased. He smiled at her. "Much." Natalie was content just close her eyes and lean against Nick's shoulder as he drove. "Do you have a destination planned?" It was a warm summer evening so they had a rare opportunity to ride together, comfortably, with the top down. "I've got an idea. In fact, we're here." Natalie looked up and noticed that they were in a park. A very dark, empty, deserted park. "Interesting choice of restaurants, I must say." "You weren't really that hungry, were you?" he asked. Natalie looked at his face. It was so innocent some times it bordered on cherubic. "What do you have in mind?" "There's a lovely view of the evening sky in the mezzanine seating." Nick opened his door, stepped out of the car and pushed his seat forward, motioning Natalie towards the back seat. "Why Detective, if I didn't know you better I'd swear your intentions were less than honorable." "And what if they were?" Natalie eased out to stand next to him. "All the better," she whispered into his ear. He delighted in the feel of her warm breath, her closeness. He held out his hand and helped her into the back seat, following her and then closing the door. As they settled in to the back seat Natalie snuggled up against him. "Are you warm enough?" he asked. She chuckled, running a finger along the buttons of his shirt. "I'm fine. You?" "I told you there was a lovely view here." Nick motioned up towards the sky. "There's Orion. And Ursa Major, Ursa Minor." Natalie had moved her hand up to his jawline and was tracing it with her fingertips. "It's a lovely view," she agreed. He captured her fingers within his own and placed a light kiss on her palm. "Maybe we should just watch the stars." "Or maybe we can work on seeing stars." She moved her other hand up his back and started to play with the curls that fell along his shirt collar. Nick looked down into her dark blue eyes, always amazed at how open she was to him, how without fear even knowing the evil in his soul. "I'm not sure, Nat." She worked her hand free from his and undid the top button on his shirt. "You let me know when things are uncomfortable for you," she undid a second button, and then a third. He squirmed a little as she ran her warm hand along the bare skin of his chest. She looked up at him again and smiled. "Uncomfortable in a bad way." Natalie completed her operation on his shirt, opening it completely and pulling it free from his pants. Nick had thus far just smiled at her actions, delighting in her attempt to find pleasure with him, from him. He placed a hand behind her head and brought her mouth to his own. Their lips met, each greedy and open to the other. Tongues explored and dueled. Natalie maneuvered to bring her knees up under herself, then she swung a leg over his hips so she could be facing him. His hands reached around, encircling her back, stroking her buttocks, the back of her thighs where her skirt had ridden up. Her hands were equally occupied, exploring his bare chest. They were lost in each other but Nick could feel his beast rising within. "Nat, I think we should stop." She pulled back to look at his eyes, noting they were still blue. She ran a hand tenderly down his cheek. "You sure? You paid for the e-ticket, you know." "A bargain at half the price," he agreed and leaned forward to kiss her lightly. "Hold it right there you two," came a man's voice from the darkness. A bright light shone into the caddy. Nick and Nat shielded their eyes against it. "I got them covered, Frank," came a second voice, a woman, just outside the car. "What's going on?" asked Nick, angered by the intrusion. Nat slid back onto the seat hiding his face against him, laughing at the circumstances. "We're going to have to bring you in. The park is closed after sunset." "Bring us in?" shouted Nick. "For what?" "Prostitution." said the young woman. Nat's jaw dropped, her laughing silenced. The woman continued. "It's a neighborhood crackdown. The local families want the park back from the likes of you all. We heard what the young lady said about paying. Well, here we have no tolerance for working women or for Johns." "This is some kind of a mistake," said Natalie. "The judge can decide that," said the officer. "Now please, out of the car." "But I'm a police officer," said Nick. "Working undercover vice, no doubt," said the older officer. "But I must say you picked well." "Watch what you say," said Nick. "I'm going to reach into my jacket for my badge." Nick slowly reached into the inside pocket of his jacket but the pocket was empty. He patted down his other pockets but they were also empty. "It must have fallen out," he said, giving the police a sheepish grin. "C'mon Romeo," said the older cop. "I'm sure the nice judge can help you look." Nick and Natalie were handcuffed. They took away Nick's gun, the two cops again exchanging glances at Nick's plea of being a cop. Nick and Nat found themselves in a different back seat. That of a Metro Police Patrol Car. Alone in the Night (02/02) by S. Clark Nick and Natalie sat awaiting booking at the 27th Precinct. "This is so embarrassing." said Nick "They didn't even let me button up my shirt." Natalie looked over at his chest. "You have nothing to be embarrassed about." Nick gazed at her for a second, still angry about the circumstance. He then allowed himself to smile. "We are never going to live this down you know." "We are if we can keep it quiet," she said. "Hey Nick," boomed a voice from across the room. All eyes were upon them. Natalie lowered her eyes. "We are never going to live this down." "Nick," repeated Captain Joe Stonetree, "what's up?" Stonetree looked at Nick and then at Natalie. "And Doctor Lambert. We don't see you too often these days." "Hi Captain," Nick replied. "There's been a bit of a mixup here. Can you give us a hand?" Stonetree laughed. "We've had a lot of turnover. I guess our rookies are a little vigilant these days." "Hi, Joe," said Natalie. "How's the wife?" Stonetree motioned at the woman who'd arrested them. "C'mere, Vetter." He looked down at Natalie. "Family is all well, thanks." Young blonde officer came over to the Captain. "We busted these two in the park, Captain. He has some story about being a cop. Probably used it to pick her up." "Uncuff 'em," ordered Stonetree. "But Captain," said Officer Tracy Vetter. "It was a good bust." "I'm sure it was," agreed Stonetree. "He is a cop. Uncuff 'em now." Tracy moved quickly to release Nick's wrists. "Her, too," said Stonetree, shrugging and shaking his head. Nick went to work buttoning his shirt, finally feeling not as exposed. Stonetree laid a hand on Natalie's shoulder. "You ok, Doc?" She smiled up at him, still rubbing her wrists. "No harm, no foul." "That'll be all, Officer," he ordered. He waited until Vetter was out of earshot before continuing. "Good kid. Father's a commissioner, though, so she's always working extra hard to prove herself." "We appreciate this, Captain." "Ah, heck. It's no problem. I'll get you a ride back you your car if you can wait a few minutes." Nick looked to Natalie and she shrugged. "That'll be fine." "Good. Prostitution," muttered Stonetree as he walked away. "Hah! Wait until Cohen hears this one." Natalie closed her eyes and brought a hand up to pinch the bridge of her nose. She didn't need vampiric hearing to have heard Stonetree's comments. She also knew before the end of the evening this story would be all over the city. Nick put a hand over her shoulder. "I'm sorry, Nat." "Sorry you asked me out?" she asked. "Sorry we were interrupted," he said, pulling her close. Natalie smiled, resting her head against his chest. "I'll make you apologize later." "So, back to the morgue?" Nick tried to sound nonchalant as he drove Natalie. Nat looked up from her burger, amazed Nick was letting her eat in the caddy. She took a sip from her diet soda. "I'd say Siberia would be a good place to spend the evening but I suppose we'll have to face work someday." Nick glanced over her, eyes twinkling. "Call in for the rest of the evening." "I shouldn't," she said. "It's slow. They can always page you." She thought about it for a moment, taking another sip of soda. "And your plans?" "I'm feeling a bit of a cough coming on," he said, followed up by a fake cough. "I think I need to see my doctor." Natalie rolled her eyes. "I suppose there's not much I can do in the lab." Nick grinned and handed over his cell phone. She dialed in, told them how to reach her, then passed it back. "Your turn." "No problems?" he asked. "Nope," she said, and went back to finishing the burger. Nick called in to Captain Cohen, but it was quickly apparent his call was not going as well. "Yes Captain. I'll stop by." He glanced over at Natalie. "We'll stop by." "Uh, oh," she said. He hung up the phone. "News travels fast." "And?" "She wants to see us." Natalie crumpled up the wrappers from her dinner and placed them into the bag. "I suppose this is inevitable." She looked over at him and started laughing. "What's so funny?" he asked. "I was just thinking you should be glad you can't blush," she said. He looked at her again, perplexed, but it only made her laugh louder. She couldn't keep from giggling the rest of the way to the station. As the two walked into the 96th they were greeted by a few whistles and cheers. "Maybe we should have come in separately," said Natalie quietly, looking back at Nick. He was fuming and she wanted to keep him from getting too angry. Cohen stepped out of her office as they approached. "I'd like you two to wait for me in the interrogation room. I'll be there in just a moment." They entered the room and sat themselves at the table. Natalie took the end seat with Nick seated at the far side next to her. "I did want to watch the stars," he said, still angry. Nat rested her elbows on the table and leaned her chin on her hands. "I didn't." Nick looked at her. His mood lightened and he smiled that innocent smile again. "I didn't, either." He was rewarded with her smile. Natalie kicked her foot out of its pump and let her foot travel up the back of his leg. "Umm, Nat." "What?" "What are you doing?" "Playing footsie," she said. "Are you sure?" He felt her other foot tracing around his ankle. "Yup, those are my feet." Nick leaned closer and kissed the tip of her nose. "I mean are you sure you should be doing this here?" Nat slid her leg as far up his as she could comfortably, so her knee was next to his. "Any further and I'd need to be a contortionist, but I can try," she said. Nick put a hand up under the table. He ran his hand along the top of her thigh then held her leg from underneath. "Here's not such a bad spot," he said. He smiled and leaned forward, kissing her deeply. So deeply that neither of them heard the door opening. "Now this is interesting," said Schanke. "Unique lunch plans, Knight." Natalie cleared her throat and sat back, pulling her leg from Nick's grasp. "Hi, Schanke." "Oh sure, now you say hi. What is it with you two? Were you going to wait until you were married until you told me something was up." Natalie blushed but then looked to Nick interested in how he might answer this one. "Nat and I are private people, Schanke." "Yeah, I know. We got your mugshots faxed from the 27th." Schanke laughed. "You take a good picture." Natalie groaned. "By the way, Cohen is fuming. Something about some Commissioner being upset about his kid's bust being broken up." Schanke stood. "Well, I better clear out before she gets in here." He waved to the two of them. "Ta Ta." Natalie looked over at Nick. "It really couldn't get much worse, could it?" He contemplated telling her about the ten people hiding behind the mirror in the observation room and decided it was better he didn't. "Don't worry," he said, taking her hand. "We'll be fine." She smiled at his use of the word 'we,' and squeezed his hand. He grinned back at her. "But maybe you'd better keep your shoes on, just in case." The talk from Cohen was short and to the point. And, basically, what they'd expected. 'As city officials they had a certain standard of behavior to uphold, yadda, yadda, yadda...' Nick and Nat took their lecture as adults. Then, as punishment, Nick was suspended for the remainder of the evening without pay. But, he was told, since no charges were filed this wouldn't go on his record. "And Knight," said Cohen as they rose to leave the room. "Yes, Captain?" "Next time, be a little nicer to your arresting officer. You never know who he or she might be related to. And I, personally, want to keep out of the Commissioner's way." "Yes, Captain." "Goodnight, Knight. Goodnight, Doctor Lambert," she said as the two of them hurriedly left the interrogation room. The bullpen silenced as Nick and Nat walked through. They moved quickly out of the station and back to the caddy. "She didn't seem too mad," said Natalie, venturing to speak. "She was actually laughing pretty loud after we left the room," said Nick. "But I don't think it was 'at us'." Nat grinned. "Oh, I know. It'll take a while before we hear the end of this." Nick took her hand and kissed the back of it. "Is it worth it?" he asked. She wrinkled her nose. "Not yet. But we've got time." Nick put the car into gear and pulled away from the station. He hadn't noticed the "Just Arrested" sign that had been taped onto the trunk of the caddy.