From sclark@best.com Tue Jul 28 11:41:37 1998 Date: Sun, 12 Jul 1998 19:21:19 -0700 From: clark To: fkfanfic@merlin.darkmage.net Subject: Save Me (01/01) This one's based partially on an idea someone sent to me asking I write a story with it. I hope Rosemary enjoys the outcome, it's changed a little of from the original. Also included a few other character names based on those who said they'd like their names to be used. 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. As always, feedback is welcomed. This story is based on characters and situations that aren't mine. Thanks to TPTB for their use. Save Me by S. Clark Natalie looked at Nick and frowned. He had invited her here, as a friend, to the Police Benevolent Society Ball. In typical Lambert style, she had spent far too much on the strapless black dress with beaded jacket. She had wasted half the day at the hair stylist. And, in what she could only now deem a move of utter desperation, she'd gone to a professional for both manicure and make-up. But now, here she was being dragged across the dance floor by Evan, an earnest young evidence technician. Between each dance she'd ask Nick if he wanted the next dance. He just shook his head 'no' each time. Keeping with the spirit of an event dedicated to dancing, Natalie decided if Nick wouldn't say yes, she wouldn't say no to whoever asked her. So, she'd Cha Cha'd with Paul from traffic. She'd rhumba'd with Frank, a desk sergeant with the 16th; unfortunately the band was playing a two-step at the time. And, she'd even taken a turn across the floor with Captain Cohen's husband. Who, she was delighted to find, was quite a good dancer. While in some ways she was enjoying herself, none of this mitigated the fact that one blond vampire, who looked absolutely stunning in a tuxedo, was content to be a wallflower. And it wasn't just that he ignored her. She felt the whole situation had been made even worse by the large collection of women that had gathered around him. Nearly every unattached female in the room was now be sitting within ten feet of the man. A few of the attached ones were there, also. And, in the middle, Nick just sat, basking in the attention. Natalie recognized Shiela, a dispatcher with a wicked sense of humor. And Lynn, community liaison and sign language interpreter. And, of course, Rosemary who was one of the organizers of the whole function. The band announced a ten minute break. Nat thanked Evan and headed back towards Nick's harem. As she got into hearing range one of the women Natalie didn't recognized was seating herself closer to Nick. "And your name is?" 'Mine,' thought Natalie. She almost snorted at the folly of that thought. 'As if.' "This is Detective Knight," offered one of the throng. "He's in homicide." "And to die for," said another, quietly, causing a tittering among the crowd. Nick gave Natalie a thin smile as she approached. She smiled back. He held out his hand towards her. She took his hand as she leaned close to whispered in his ear. "I'm going to go get something to drink." She tried to tug her hand away but he held on with a firm grip. Natalie regarded his sad blue eyes for a moment and again whispered to him, this time voice sharper. "I think you have enough playmates." "Help me," he whispered back. With his other hand he held her face near his own. He gave her a quick peck on the cheek and the she could feel the source of his problem. Fangs. Natalie pulled her hand away and stormed off. 'Just like always, I come here with the absolute wrong expectations. Another move in typical Lambert style.' Natalie heard the wave of sighs as Nick stood and walked to her. He slipped a hand around her waist and led her out the door onto a terrace. "I don't know what you expect from me, Nick," she said quietly, as they exited. She knew her words would register with his sensitive hearing. He waited until they were outside, walking in an adjoining park. "I thuppothe I'hm noht a vewy gohd dahte tahnight," he said. Natalie would have laughed if she wasn't so angry. "Nick, you get yourself into this state with all of those women, then you turn to me for help. What do you expect from me?" "Yah think I wahnted tham to thit bah me?" he protested. It was hard for Natalie to maintain her sense of righteous indignation while he struggled to talk, but she was managing. "I didn't see you pushing anyone away." "Lahk thith? Yah expeht me ta tahk ta them lahk thith?" Natalie smiled at his predicament. "I suppose not." He frowned. "I'hve behn whaiting ahl evahning fah yah tah cohm clothe ehnuff fah me ta tahlk. Yah wath alwayth toh fah when ya cahme bhy." Natalie looked away. She had been talking to him from further and further away. It was necessary, though, as his entourage grew. "I kehpt hohpin thith whould gah ahway. I thould hahve rehalithed I wath too focuthed on what hahd cauthed," he pointed towards his mouth, "thith." "The women?" She was saddened as she reminded herself that she was just one of many in his adoring masses. "Tha wohman," he said. "Tha ohly ohn tha hohls ahny intretht fah me." 'So someone here did catch his eye.' Natalie drew in a deep breath. "I suppose she's pretty." Nick got an entirely whistful look. "The'th bewtahful. The'th wahndahful." Nick winked at Nat. "The'th thexy." "Thexy?" Natalie repeated. She was pretty sure she didn't want to hear this. Nick look at her with the puppy grin. She wasn't sure how he'd managed that feat with fangs descended. "Ahn bwilyahnt." Natalie pinched the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger. Usually she could at least convince herself she'd win on brains, if not looks. Didn't seem like even that was an option this time. "The lahvth dahnthing. And ohn an evahning lihk tahnight ath I thee har ihn tha armth ohv ehvary othar mahn, iht makth me think of how mach I tahk har far gwantad." Nick took Natalie's hand in his own. "And haw much I wahnt ta spehnt mah thime with the ahn I ahlone." Nick presented his hand to Natalie. "Mah I hahv thith danth, Dahcta Lahbaht?" Natalie smiled as he engulfed her within his embrace. They swayed together in time and she was content, being held in his arms. "I think I like you like this," she said, resting her head on his shoulder? "Lahk wha?" "Like...mine."