Subject: XOVER: Harbouring Thoughts (01/01) Date: Tue, 20 Apr 1999 09:59:28 -0700 From: clark To: FKFIC-L@LISTS.PSU.EDU This is a crossover of FK/Black Harbour. It contains references to third season Black Harbour that could spoil one of the major story arcs. So, if you haven't seen third season and don't want spoilers, I'd suggest you read it after it's done. Besides, it'd make more sense that way. In the FK universe, it starts in the "Avenging Angel" tag. Permission given to archive at fkfanfic website and the FTP site. No other permission is granted to repost/reprint/reuse. But if you're interested, just ask. As always, feedback is welcome. This story is based on characters and situations that aren't mine. Thanks to TPTB for their use. "Harbouring Thoughts" by S. Clark Nick entered the observation room. Natalie was already present. The two of them watched the young woman as she told her tale to Reese and Vetter. Natalie glanced at Nick. His look of concern seemed to match her own. Nick took a seat on the table. As Julie's words filled the room, painting a picture of her deeds, he turned towards the cinderblock wall, his back to the glass. He felt Natalie's hand on his shoulder and turned towards her. "What are you thinking, Nick?" Nick looked up at Natalie, and then shifted around. His gaze again settled in on the young woman seated in interrogation. "Nick?" Natalie snapped her fingers in front of Nick's face. "Nick, are you with us?" "It's nothing," he said. But even as he was speaking the words he continued to stare, entranced. Natalie took a seat next to Nick and nudged him gently with her shoulder. "C'mon, share." Nick shook his head, breaking out of the stare. He gave Nat a smile. "It's just that young woman in there." "It's a shame, isn't it? So much has happened to her, and there's so much she's done." Natalie looked at Julie. "It's not that. Not the murder, I mean." Natalie looked at Nick. He was back to staring, fixated on the young woman. Her eyes narrowed. "Nick, what are you thinking?" "I think if I were a forty year old man..." he began. "Which you aren't," muttered Natalie. "...this is the kind of woman I'd find appealing." Nick looked at Natalie, his eyes revealed a glimmer of hope. "Woman, Nick? She's a girl." Nick smiled. "She's perfect. She's wonderful. I think if I was in the middle of a mid-life crisis..." His voice trailed off. Natalie rolled her eyes. "Nick. Let's get back to reality." Nick's expression brightened. "I'm not sure what sentence they'll give her. Maybe only a few years, light supervision." "Nick?" "And if it's more than a few years, I could break her out. It'd be easy. I could change her name, just a little. Maybe Jessie, that's close to Julie; they both start with a 'J.'" "Nick." "We could move somewhere, together. Maybe the Maritimes. Perhaps she'd like Marine Biology. If so, near the ocean would be an ideal location." "You are joking, right, Nick?" Whatever dreamtrain Nick was taking, Natalie's tone made it clear she wasn't riding. Nick gave a slight shrug. "You're right, you're right. I shouldn't be thinking these things." Natalie gave him a smile and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. They'd all been under a lot of stress with this case. "It'd probably end badly, anyway. She'd want to move on, maybe continue her education. Maybe to her it'd only have been about the sex." He smiled. "But it would have been great sex." Natalie took her hand off Nick's shoulder and cuffed him upside the head. He didn't react, he just kept talking. "It'd not only end ugly, but I'd pout and whine, yelling at anyone who came near. I might even want to do some stupid trick to prove my manhood. Like the old man, I'd be out fighting a giant fish. A struggle for survival, just me and the tuna." "I'm leaving, Nick." Natalie hopped off the table and headed for the door. Nick continued to stare at the young woman. "Then again, I've had relationships end before. Maybe I'd even learn something from it." His attention was so fixed upon Julie, he didn't even hear Natalie's scream of frustration. A blood curdling scream that took her all the way from the bullpen to the exit. Back in the observation room, Nick was still musing over his dreams. "With all of the pain of the breakup, I'd learn something, and eventually become a better person. That'd be good, wouldn't it Nat?" He glanced at the young woman. She was still the sole focus of his thoughts. "What if," he said to himself. "What if..."